Accidental Agent

A covert agent’s memoir of three perilous missions in Nazi-occupied Paris, told with “unconditional honesty” (Kirkus Reviews).

At first, John Goldsmith’s services were consistently refused. But in 1942, he was recruited into Buckmasters F Section of the Special Operations Executive—and his wartime exploits would be remarkable.

His faultless French and upbringing in Paris were to prove invaluable. After intensive training he was parachuted into France for the first of his three missions. His adventures included crossing the Pyrenees, sabotage, forming his own circuits, being captured by the Gestapo, a daring escape, and black-marketeering. In 1944, he was advisor to the Maquis guerrillas in the Mont Ventoux area, where they fought the Germans in pitched battles and won. In this candid autobiography, he vividly recounts his dramatic and dangerous World War II adventures.