In 1942, Leo Marks left his father's famous bookshop, 84 Charing Cross Road, and went off to fight the war. He was twenty-two. Soon recognized as a cryptographer of genius, he became head of communications at the Special Operations Executive (SOE), where he revolutionized the codemaking techniques of the Allies and trained some of the most famous agents dropped into occupied Europe, including "the White Rabbit" and Violette Szabo. As a top codemaker, Marks had a unique perspective on one of the most fascinating and, until now, little-known aspects of the Second World War.

Writing with the narrative flair and vivid characterization of his famous screenplays, Marks gives free rein to his keen sense of the absurd and his wry wit, resulting in a thrilling and poignant memoir that celebrates individual courage and endeavor, without losing sight of the human cost and horror of war.

1. A Hard Man to Place
2. The Pilot Light
3. A Collector's Item
4. 'Merde Alors!'
5. All Things Bright and Beautiful
6. The Fifth Grouse
7. SOE-minded
8. The Plumber and His Mate
9. The Godfather
10. The Sixth Sense
11. The High-Pitched Bleep
12. A Shock Discovery
13. The Biter Bitten
14. The Last-Chance Month
15. The Bolt Hole
16. A Question of Y
17. Arquebus, Gunnerside and Golf
18. The Coding Cabaret
19. Summit Meeting
20. The Findings of the Court
21. Repercussions
22. The Launching of Plan Giskes
23. Special Devices
24. Judgement Day
25. Permission to Proceed?
26. Court Martial
27. Criminal Negligence
28. Green Ink
29. Best Read at Night
30. The War Dance
31. Accidents Will Happen
32. Pilgrim's Progress
33. The 'Hard Men'
34. Judicial Review
35. The Masterstroke
36. Desperate Measures
37. Punitive Expedition
38. The Secret Weapon
39. Appointment with Royalty
40. The Extended Briefing
41. Operation Gift-horse
42. A Terrible Gaffe
43. Operation Sidetrack
44. Beyond Belief
45. Parallel Action
46. The Club Rules
47. Lake Como's Bottom
48. 'I Hereby Bequeath'
49. A Treat for the Natives
50. Homecoming
51. Stranglehold
52. Man with a Mission
53. Breaking Point
54. Who Stole Your Grace?
55. The Forty-Eight Mistakes
56. Unique in SOE
57. The Major Development
58. 'If I Should Die, Etcetera'
59. The Invisible Presence
60. Fumigated
61. A Mere Squadron Leader
62. Without Precedent
63. Open Arrest
64. Misgivings
65. 'The Life that I Have'
66. April Fool's Day
67. The New Boys
68. Inexcusable
69. For Your Ears Only
70. Neptune's Trident
71. Staying Power
72. 'They Also Serve'
73. Self-Defence
74. Taken for Granted
75. The Day of Reckoning
76. Pockets of Resistance
77. Operation Periwig
78. Serial Number 47685
79. For Services Rendered
80. Exemplary Conduct
81. The Last Mischief
Epilogue
Appendix
Index