Customer Reviews

Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan

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Noor Inayat Khan was a SOE agent, working as a wireless operator in occupied France. This is an interesting read about her childhood, how she became a spy, and the aftermath. Through the story of one agent and her family, you realize the magnitude of the war, where the mission became far more important than family ties. A musician and student of child psychology, who writes stories for children, eventually finds herself running from house to house in Paris, evading the gestapo. Shrabani Basu's writing is full of details but dull at times, but the power of the human spirit comes through.

"Spy Princess" takes advantage of all the former efforts to tell the story of a wonderful Heroine named Noor Un Nisa. It is a well written and thoughtful contribution to the library of material that is growing agout the SOE and Noor. It sorts for the truth among all the research that has blossomed since WWII, making it a well balanced combination of all the known facts.

Noor's legacy is a story which doesn't die, and as the newcomer will find, rightfully so. The first book about her life, "Noor Un Nisa", was penned by Jean Overton Fuller, a personal wartime friend of Noor's. Little was known about the circumstances surrounding Noor's death until the peices began to be assembled. After five years of research Fuller published her findings in 1950, and the results were sensational. Soon afterward her book was made into a Hollywood movie, and these opened up public interests into a wide field of other questions about the fate of all the agents of the SOE, the secret organization which Noor joined to fight Hitler.

Noor was a Pacifist, growing up in the family of one of the world's greatest Sufi teacher's, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Noor's brother, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, took up the Sufi mantle upon his father's death, and taught in the US and Europe for the rest of his life. He in fact was in England with his sister unaware that she was preparing to go into occuppied France, eventually to her death. So he too was in the dark about his sister's fate until the war crimes tribunals and the efforts to find out more began to trickle out into public scrutiny. Pir Vilayat also took part in the war effort against totalitarianism in the British Navy, and was one of the few who escaped death on board a British Destroyer which was hunting a U Boat when his ship was torpedoed.

Another fine work, "Flames In The Field" by Kramer, was done in the 1990's. Kramer helped hone the material into shape by a wide study of the fellow agents who worked in tandem with Noor. They were part of a large effort conducted by a score of underground networks established under the rubric of the SOE against German control of France as well as elsewhere throughout the Allies war effort of WWII. All these books are worth the time to read for they are timely in the current fears that Fascism and Totalitarianism are not done with. With the current aggeement between China and Russia 'for security and economic purposes' just completed, there may be more chips to fall.

"SPY PRINCESS"; The Life of Noor Inayat Khan was as unique a story as any fictional novel could be. The only difference is ... this story was true. Noor Inayat Khan was born to the union of an American journalist, Ora Ray Baker, and Hazrat Inayat Khan, a descendant from the Tipu Sultan of India who led an uprising against the British in 1799.

The author, Shrabani Basu does a superb job of delving both into the mystical side of Noor Khan as well as, the secular side of her life and her work as a spy for British intelligence.

Here is a book that portrays a real patriot, and... a real avatar. The reader can not help but see that Noor Khan actually takes on a "Christ figure" in her life as well as in her death. She is "Arjuna" from the Bhagavad-Gita, and at the same time, she emanates the incarnate spirit of a real Joan of Arc.

Noor's artistic side is no less impressive. She was a writer of children's books (Twenty Jataka Tales), poetry, and indulged in various classical arts.

On the secular side, Noor Khan was an exceptional patriot who becomes a member of the British SOE and was recruited for special assignment behind enemy lines in occupied France (her adopted country), during WWII. She becomes the first female wireless operator to enter France and the last wireless operator in Paris before her betrayal and arrest by the Gestapo.

The author indicates that Noor Khan was totally truthful. A fact that may have sealed her fate even while still training in England. During the war, India was struggling for its own independence and was a real possible threat to Britan. When she appeared before a board that would either pass or fail her in on-going spy training, she was asked; what she thought of the Indian situation, and... which side would she support in case of conflict. Ms. Khan told the board she would, if necessary, stand for India against England...after the war with Germany. Despite the disapproving grunts she was still passed on for further training. I can not help but wonder if, the British government sent her into "harms way" knowing... that her survival chances were more than slim.

None the less, Noor Inayat Khan chose to follow her path(karma), and like Joan of Arc... met her end and was burned at the martyrs alter.

This is a very strong and tragic story, but one that should be read and felt by everyone!

This could have been such a great book , if written well. The subject material is so intriguing , compelling one to buy the book, but then it was an effort to just go through the first three chapters!! It doesn't captivate you..to want you to keep reading! Very dull & mediocre research style of writing here! William Dalrymple or Ebrahim Eraly would've done it justice! Very disappointing!

I thouroughley enjoyed reading this book,a story about courage, devotion ,espionage and the life of this insperational young woman Noor Inyat Khan. Born into a Sufi family, taught the Sufi values of service , truthefullnes and pacifisim, Noor volenteers to serve as a underground radio operator in occupied France during the second world war. This book went some way to answering the question Iwas asking myself. Why would a young lady bought up with Sufi values, who studied music and child phycology at the Sorbon volanteer to undertake such a mission? With such obviousley conflicting values and rolls this young lady served the Allied countrys with strength and fortatude rarley seen in the toughest of soldiers letalone a diminitave girl of her nature.A wounderfull insight into an extrondary life. Well reserched but is some of the facts are in conflict with the ABC and Wicapedia, none the less well done to the author. MICK GUILFOYLE

I had read this before and am delighted to have my own copy. My Sufi teacher gave me her name as a spiritual name. I am honored.

The true story of the life of a little known true heroine who was very courageous.