Country Life

The spies who loved us

IF you take a stroll around London, you’re likely to spot a few of English Heritage’s iconic blue plaques, which mark the homes of famous writers, artists and other notable people, from military leaders to scientific innovators. Each year, a handful of new names is added to this impressive roster and, in March, English Heritage announced that this year’s list includes two leading female spies, who risked their lives on top-secret missions.

Christine Granville was Britain’s longest-serving female agent during the Second World War and her daring exploits read like something from an adventure novel. Born Krystyna Skarbek, the daughter of a charming, but dissolute Polish aristocrat and a Jewish heiress, she grew

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