Between Silk and Cyanide (1998)

by Leo Marks

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
1,019	33	20,558	(4.1)	69
In 1942, Leo Marks left his father's famous bookshop, 84 Charing Cross Road, and went off to fight the war. He was twenty-two. Soon recognized as a cryptographer of genius, he became head of communications at the Special Operations Executive (SOE), where he revolutionized the codemaking techniques of the Allies and trained some of the most famous agents dropped into occupied Europe, including the White Rabbit and Violette Szabo. As a top codemaker, Marks had a unique perspective on one of the most fascinating and, until now, little-known aspects of the Second World War. Writing with the narrative flair and vivid characterization of his famous screenplays, Marks gives free rein to his keen sense of the absurd and his wry wit, resulting in a thrilling and poignant memoir that celebrates individual courage and endeavor, without losing sight of the human cost and horror of war.… (more)

all members

▾Members

Recently added by

historysmyth, private library, lilserf, dvoratreis, Sarah.E.Kocher, Meleos, LazloNibble, lizzclark, AdamJBarr

▾Tags

▾LibraryThing Recommendations

▾Member recommendations

00
London Calling North Pole by H. J. Giskes (markbarnes)
00
The Codebreakers by David Kahn (John_Vaughan)
John_Vaughan: Between offers the human (and even humor) side to Code-Breaking

▾Lists

Favourite Books (875)

THE WAR ROOM (153)

Books About World War II (83)

» 2 more

Books about World War II (200)

Best Espionage (Non-Fiction) (18)

▾Will you like it?

▾Conversations (About links)

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 69 mentions

▾Member reviews

date ▼ | votes

Showing 1-5 of 33 (next | show all)

Wonderful book. I didn't understand anything about the codes, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying this book immensely. The story he has to tell us is fascinating and he tells it with great wit and humanity. Marks, by the way, was the son of one of the owners of Marks and Co., the bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road. The agents who risked their lives to defeat the Germans were an extraordinary bunch of brave and highly intelligent people. And so were people like Marks, who did everything they could to try to keep them from getting caught.

I didn't read this edition. I read a 2008 edition published by The History Press -- the worst editing I have ever seen in a printed book. And I loved it in spite of that (and the codes). But I advise you to stay away from The History Press publication and find another one, which I will do when I go to buy more copies as gifts. (

)

dvoratreis | May 22, 2024 |

A fantastic, humorous, very well-written memoir by Britain's top codemaker and Director of Communications for SOE during WWII. At age 23 Marks leaves home hoping to do his bit for his country. While everyone else in his cryptographic class heads off for Bletchley Park, Leo ends up on Baker Street with the SEO. He becomes the head of code making for the British. His story is honest, self-deprecating, and funny. But he never forgets the agents lost, especially Violette Szabo and Yeo-Thomas. The title refers to a conversation Marks had to convince the purse-string holders to produce his codes on strips of silk. He says the agents lives may very well come down to his silks, or cyanide. Highly recommended. (Read and reviewed in 2017) (

)

labfs39 | Sep 17, 2022 |

Another WWII book that's quite different. Unbelievable that Leo Marks was a master cryptographer and was only in his 20's. Irreverent, funny, sarcastic and readable describing very hard to describe methods of encrypting agents messages and the value of communications in war and peace time.
This on will move along to a non-BC reader in Utah. (

)

nancynova | Apr 12, 2021 |

British codebreaker’s memoir of WWII, where he tried to keep agents safe and occasionally succeeded. Dry British humor and lots of bureaucratic infighting. (

)

rivkat | Mar 22, 2020 |

A good book and generally interesting but too long (

)

jamespurcell | Feb 18, 2020 |

date ▼ | votes

Showing 1-5 of 33 (next | show all)

▾Published reviews

1 review

add a review

thingScore unrated

added by doomjesse | editNew York Times

▾Other authors

» Add other authors (7 possible)

Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Marks, Leo	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Mawer, Simon	Introduction	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

▾Awards and Honors

view history

▾Common Knowledge

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.

For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.

Canonical title

Between Silk and Cyanide

Original title

Between Silk and Cyanide : A Codemaker's War, 1941-1945

Alternative titles

Between Silk and Cyanide : The Story of SOE's Code War

Original publication date

People/Characters

Special Operations Executive

Important places

Bletchley Park, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

84, Charing Cross Road, London, England, UK

Important events

World War II (1939 | 1945)

World War II, British Home Front

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

In December 1943 I wrote a poem which I gave to Violette Szabo to use as a code. This book is dedicated to all those who have shared it with her.

The life that I have

Is all that I have

And the life that I have

Is yours.

The love that I have

Of the life that I have

Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have

A rest I shall have

Yet death will be but a pause.

For the peace of my years

In the long green grass

Will be yours and yours and yours.

First words

In January 1942 I was escorted to the war by my parents in case I couldn't find it or met with an accident on the way.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (7)

Armistice of Cassibile

Between Silk and Cyanide

Diacope

Englandspiel

Marks & Co

Secret Intelligence Service

The Life That I Have

▾Book descriptions

In 1942, Leo Marks left his father's famous bookshop, 84 Charing Cross Road, and went off to fight the war. He was twenty-two. Soon recognized as a cryptographer of genius, he became head of communications at the Special Operations Executive (SOE), where he revolutionized the codemaking techniques of the Allies and trained some of the most famous agents dropped into occupied Europe, including the White Rabbit and Violette Szabo. As a top codemaker, Marks had a unique perspective on one of the most fascinating and, until now, little-known aspects of the Second World War. Writing with the narrative flair and vivid characterization of his famous screenplays, Marks gives free rein to his keen sense of the absurd and his wry wit, resulting in a thrilling and poignant memoir that celebrates individual courage and endeavor, without losing sight of the human cost and horror of war.

▾Library descriptions

No library descriptions found.

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

Haiku summary