KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, Hughe. Diplomat in Peace and War
KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, Hughe. Diplomat in Peace and War. London: John Murray. 1949. 8vo. First edition. Publisher's green cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the dust jacket with the central motif designed by 'McCunnell'. A near fine copy, the cloth clean and bright, the textblock edges a trifle spotted. The binding tight and square, a little rolled from bottom edge. The contents mostly fine, with ink initials to the front endpaper, with a couple of spots here, else fine.
A scarce autobiography by the British diplomat whose career he describes as 'a kind of gilded vagabondage'. Knatchbull-Hugessen played a key role in ensuring Turkey remain neutral through the war, but he is best remembered for his role in Operation Cicero. He employed a Kosovar Albanian chauffeur who, it is thought, had training from Italy's secret service, and was codenamed Cicero. Cicero used locksmithery to dupe Knatchbull-Hugessen, selling information to the Nazis, including details on Operation Overlord and many other plans. Somehow, Knatchbull-Hugessen survived the scandal, and was a noted British diplomat until 1947. The volume is illustrated with photographic plates and with the author's own sketches. Scarce.
KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, Hughe. Diplomat in Peace and War. London: John Murray. 1949. 8vo. First edition. Publisher's green cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the dust jacket with the central motif designed by 'McCunnell'. A near fine copy, the cloth clean and bright, the textblock edges a trifle spotted. The binding tight and square, a little rolled from bottom edge. The contents mostly fine, with ink initials to the front endpaper, with a couple of spots here, else fine.
A scarce autobiography by the British diplomat whose career he describes as 'a kind of gilded vagabondage'. Knatchbull-Hugessen played a key role in ensuring Turkey remain neutral through the war, but he is best remembered for his role in Operation Cicero. He employed a Kosovar Albanian chauffeur who, it is thought, had training from Italy's secret service, and was codenamed Cicero. Cicero used locksmithery to dupe Knatchbull-Hugessen, selling information to the Nazis, including details on Operation Overlord and many other plans. Somehow, Knatchbull-Hugessen survived the scandal, and was a noted British diplomat until 1947. The volume is illustrated with photographic plates and with the author's own sketches. Scarce.
KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, Hughe. Diplomat in Peace and War. London: John Murray. 1949. 8vo. First edition. Publisher's green cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the dust jacket with the central motif designed by 'McCunnell'. A near fine copy, the cloth clean and bright, the textblock edges a trifle spotted. The binding tight and square, a little rolled from bottom edge. The contents mostly fine, with ink initials to the front endpaper, with a couple of spots here, else fine.
A scarce autobiography by the British diplomat whose career he describes as 'a kind of gilded vagabondage'. Knatchbull-Hugessen played a key role in ensuring Turkey remain neutral through the war, but he is best remembered for his role in Operation Cicero. He employed a Kosovar Albanian chauffeur who, it is thought, had training from Italy's secret service, and was codenamed Cicero. Cicero used locksmithery to dupe Knatchbull-Hugessen, selling information to the Nazis, including details on Operation Overlord and many other plans. Somehow, Knatchbull-Hugessen survived the scandal, and was a noted British diplomat until 1947. The volume is illustrated with photographic plates and with the author's own sketches. Scarce.