In 1997 I was going through some serious life changes and came across this book at an outlet mall on the bargain table. I spent $2.50. After reading it, I would have paid more than ten times that amount for this book. It renewed my interest in reading, gave me a new author to collect; and best of all gave me the story of a brave woman who made a difference in the history of the world. It was EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you, Mary Lovell.
From Mary S. Lovell's website: "The legend of Betty Pack is simple enough. She was a beautiful American spy recruited first by the British Secret lntelligence Service in 1938 and later by the American OSS. Her method of obtaining information was singular: seduction. In Cast No Shadow Mary Lovell, author of Straight On Till Morning, the internationally acclaimed and best-selling biography of Beryl Markham, gives us for the first time the complete story behind the legend of this modern-day Mata Hari, a story more astounding than the legend."
"Cast No Shadow" took me into my favorite era - post WW1 through post WW2. I have reread this twice. I'm not they type to spoil movies or books but Betty Pack's story will inspire any woman looking for strength in being a woman.
This book is out of print. The few copies I found on Abe Books were pricey. I had lost mine to some friend who borrowed it and never returned it. I was so sad because of the importance this book held for me. I finally found it online and it was a lot more than $2.50 with a dust jacket that wasn't in the best shape, but I'll treasure it for many years.
I have it straight from the author that her book on Amelia Earhart, "The Sound of Wings" has been made into a movie ('Amelia'), starring Richard Gere and Hilary Swank, and will be premiered on October 23rd in the US. Richard Gere plays George Putnam who was a pioneer in Oregon. She had to do a lot of research at Bend, Oregon. Stills from the movie can be seen here.
The Sound of Wings (St Martins Press, New York)
Publication date 1989
Hardback ISBN 0 312 03431 8
The Sound of Wings (St Martins Press, New York)
Publication date 1990
Paperback ISBN 0 312 03431 8
Mary S. Lovell's website:
Comments