Archive for August, 2015

BooksWorld War II

August 30, 2015

Christine and Francis Working Together

Tags: , , , , ,

The Vercors Massif in southeast France rises half a mile high, creating a natural fortress, crisscrossed with forests, farmland, ravines, caves, and secret paths. There are eight gateway roads but only one that’s easily accessible. In 1942 the Vercors was a gathering place for the Maquis. The Maquis was born when the Allies began their  Read the Rest…

BooksWorld War II

August 19, 2015

They spy: Christine Granville and Francis Cammaerts

Tags: , , , , , ,

The life expectancy of a WW II spy was not long, but Christine Granville flashed across the sky with particular brightness. Of the two books I read about her, The Spy Who Loved by Claire Mulley was by far the better written and researched. Published in 2012, the author had access to previously classified documents.   Read the Rest…

BooksPostsWorld War II

August 10, 2015

Make Way for the Spies

Tags: , , , , ,

Thus summer’s reading project is a continuation of what began nearly a year ago and continues without an end in sight: World War II. It began with the S.O.E. spies, broadened into the French Resistance and slopped over into the Nazis until I was reading pretty much anything about World War II except the actual  Read the Rest…

CurmudgeonFriends

August 1, 2015

My So-Called Internet Connection

Tags: , , ,

Comcast changed its name to Xfinity (why?) a long time ago, but I still think of them as Comcast. Or more often, “Fucking Comcast.” For purposes of this narrative the company shall remain Comcast. Expletives may or may not be deleted. Several months ago Comcast began pushing a new and faster modem that would enhance  Read the Rest…