{"product_id":"operation-heartbreak","title":"Operation Heartbreak","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"std\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"width: 496px;\"\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/7642\/5795\/files\/51_Operation_Heartbreak.jpg?v=1593108941\u0026amp;width=700\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"redtext\"\u003eAFTERWORD BY MAX ARTHUR\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e168pp\u003cbr\u003eISBN 9781903155417\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A perfect novel' (\u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOperation Heartbreak\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is a novel based on the astonishing true story of efforts by British naval intelligence to conceal from the Germans preparations to invade Sicily in 1943. Author Duff Cooper is said to have first heard a version of it from Winston Churchill one evening after dinner when he was ambassador in Paris; it later formed the basis of the best-selling book, film and musical \u003cem\u003eOperation Mincemeat.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hero of \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eOperation Heartbreak\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (1950) is called Willie Maryngton; the central tragedy of his life is that he is too young to fight in the First World War and too old for the Second. Willie 'knew perfectly well that when a regiment went abroad on active service some officers and men were left behind. But he had never thought that he would be among those officers. The Colonel had talked about the first scrap, but that was just the scrap he wanted to be in. He had said something about heavy casualties. Willie minded little how heavy they were if he was in it, but how could he bear to sit at home, hoping that his brother officers would be killed so that he could take their place?' But Willie does in the end play a vital part in the Allies' eventual victory, and the knowledge that this book is based on a true wartime incident is in part why it is so moving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2004, when we first published it, author Nina Bawden wrote us a lovely letter: 'I am so delighted you are bringing \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOperation Heartbreak\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e out again. It is the novel I enjoyed more than any other in the immediate post-war years, and one I have read many times since with undiminished pleasure and growing admiration for Duff Cooper's skill. It is a story of why men go to war, it is also a heart-wrenching love story; a wonderful novel by a masterly writer that should be on everyone's bookshelf—and not borrowed but bought.' Meanwhile; Emma Smith told us that 'I remember weeping copiously over \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eOperation Heartbreak\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e when I first read it – it is a deeply-moving book, beautifully written.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOperation Heartbreak\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e should take its place beside other, similar classics such as \u003cem\u003eReunion\u003c\/em\u003e by Fred Uhlman, \u003cem\u003eStrange Meeting\u003c\/em\u003e by Susan Hill and \u003cem\u003eA Month in the Country\u003c\/em\u003e by JL Carr - short novels about war which are quiet, domestic, poignant and understated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEndpaper\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"endpaper-caption\"\u003eThis wartime printed rayon, designed by Arnold Lever for Jacqmar in c.1941, is called 'Happy Landings'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"endpaper-caption\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePicture Caption\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"endpaper-caption\"\u003eNancy Jean Leslie ('Pam') whose photograph was used as part of 'Operation Mincemeat' during WWII.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Duff Cooper","offers":[{"title":"None","offer_id":54098765447475,"sku":"ucm1789694493123","price":27.6,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tissue\/Endpaper","offer_id":54098765480243,"sku":"kzc1789694493124","price":33.12,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cambridge Imprint paper","offer_id":54098765513011,"sku":"fpd1789694493125","price":37.23,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Reusable fabric napkin","offer_id":54098765545779,"sku":"mpi1789694493126","price":44.89,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0989\/0578\/4627\/files\/operation-heartbreak_1.jpg?v=1789694497","url":"https:\/\/sandstepclad.shop\/products\/operation-heartbreak","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}