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Bibliographic Details

Title: West End Front. The Wartime Secrets Of ...

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Publication Date: 2011

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis:

The Ritz, the Savoy, the Dorchester and Claridge's - during the Second World War they teemed with spies, con-artists, deposed royals and the exiled governments of Europe. And now, Matthew Sweet's West End Front is just as teeming with the incredible cast of characters from this unique period of London's history.

Meet the girl from MI5 who had the gravy browning licked from her legs by Dylan Thomas; the barman who was appointed the keeper of Winston Churchill's private bottle of whisky; the East End Communist who marched with his comrades into the air-raid shelter of the Savoy; the throneless prince born in a suite at Claridge's declared Yugoslav territory for one night only. Matthew Sweet has interviewed them all for this account of the extraordinary events that unfolded under the reinforced ceilings of London's grand hotels.

Using the memories of first-hand witnesses, the contents of newly declassified government files and a wealth of previously unpublished letters, memoirs and photographs, he has reconstructed a lost world of scandal, intrigue and fortitude.

Review:

'Matthew Sweet's curiosity and sense of fun pulls back the heavy baize curtains on what we thought we knew about the war. As intoxicating as a glass of champagne at the Cafe de Paris.' --Linda Grant

'A scandalously enjoyable account of lives, losses and inconsiderate love-making, 'The West End Front' boasts a visitors' book like no other. From the egregious con man Sir Curtis Lampson to the louche inhabitants of the 'Pink Sink' bar, Fifth columnists, communists, spies, spivs, charlatans and deposed monarchs, they're all here, somehow keeping their crumpets buttered and their dignity intact during the worst excesses of the Ritzkrieg. Delightfully gossipy and often moving, it shines an affectionate search-light on an entirely forgotten chapter of World War Two.' --Mark Gatiss

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We are a family run online bookshop based in Wales at the western edge of the Brecon Beacons National park and have been selling books online since October 2004. I have always had a love of books and it eventually got to the stage where my own book collection began to take over the family home! I reluctantly decided to sell a few of my own books on Amazon and was astonished at how quickly they sold. I was hooked and decided to start buying and selling books as a small part-time business from my spare bedroom. The business rapidly expanded, taking over the spare bedroom and my garage, swiftly followed by a spare bedroom in my mother's house and her garage! I acquired a small industrial unit in February 2007 and took the plunge to go full-time in March 2007, closely followed by my wife in September 2007. In October 2007 we moved in to larger premises and also took on our first members of staff to assist with the ever increasing workload. Our aim is to ensure that the people who buy our books enjoy the same service that we would hope for when purchasing a book ourselves. To that end, we endeavour to give all our books accurate descriptions, price them accordingly and dispatch swiftly and safely. All orders are dispatched within one working day, Monday to Friday. We will endeavour to answer all queries by email within 24 hours.

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Goldstone Books
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Goldstone Books Limited
Cilyrychen Industrial Estate, Llandybie, Carmarthenshire, SA18 3GY.
Email: customerservices@goldstonebooks.co.uk - Phone: 01269 267070
Company registration number: 06817864. VAT registration number: 920299721
Managing Director: Ashley Stamford-Plows

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