Nicholas Shakespeare was born in Worcester in 1957 and grew up in the Far East and Latin America. He is a prize-winning novelist and biographer and Priscilla draws on his talents in both genres.

"A pin-sharp biography which unfurls like gripping fiction... wonderful, haunting, thought-provoking" -- Melanie Reid The Times "I have not read a better portrait of the moral impossibility of that time and place for people, like Priscilla, who found themselves trapped in it... A wonderful book" Daily Telegraph "As Shakespeare acknowledges, his aunt's is one of millions of wartime stories. But thanks to the extensive paperwork, and his energetic digging, he creates a detailed and vivid narrative. This is a moving, and constantly surprising story" -- Matthew Bell Independent on Sunday "So gripping it reads like a novel" -- Rachel Johnson Evening Standard "This mysterious story of the Occupation in France has all the qualities of a fascinating novel, with exquisite social, sexual and moral nuance" -- Antony Beevor