The West End Front: The Wartime Secrets of London's Grand Hotels

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The West End Front: The Wartime Secrets of London's Grand Hotels
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Matthew Sweet
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:400
Dimensions(mm): Height 196,Width 127
Category/GenreBritish and Irish History
Second world war
ISBN/Barcode 9780571234783
ClassificationsDewey:940.53161
Audience
General
Edition Main

Publishing Details

Publisher Faber & Faber
Imprint Faber & Faber
Publication Date 7 June 2012
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Spies: Meet Marie-Jacqueline Lancaster, the woman from M15 who has the gravy browning licked from her legs by Dylan Thomas. Royals: Meet Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, born in a suite at Claridge's that was declared Yugoslav territory for the night. Players: Meet Joyce Stone, whose husband leads the band at the Dorchester, keeping dancers foxtrotting even as the shudders of bombardments penetrate the sound-proofed walls of the hotel. West End Front is a witty and eye-opening account of the extraordinary events that unfolded under the reinforced ceilings of London's grand hotels.

Author Biography

Matthew Sweet presents Night Waves and Freethinking on BBC Radio 3, and is the summer presenter of The Film Programme on Radio Four. He is the author of Inventing the Victorians and Shepperton Babylon, which he adapted as a film for BBC Four. His TV programmes include Silent Britain, A Brief History of Fun, The Age of Excess, Truly, Madly, Cheaply and The Rules of Film Noir.