Deborah Swift on The Silk Code
The bestselling author discusses SOE agents, WWII espionage, female spies, and the real history behind Britain’s secret war operations.
Deborah, congratulations on The Silk Code. What encouraged you to write about the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the Second World War?
Like most people, I’m fascinated by those who are prepared to risk death in order to further a cause. I liked the fact that the SOE was shrouded in secrecy, which provides many opportunities for the novelist, where some characters in the book are unaware of the activities of the others.
I also liked the fact that the SOE had a mission to ‘set Europe ablaze’ (Churchill). This incendiary activity was unlike the more sedate operations of MI5. SOE agents were mainly tasked with sabotage and subversion behind enemy lines, and these activities would be bound to bring my characters into danger.
The novel’s protagonist, Nancy, is female – what inspired you to place a woman at the centre of your story instead of a male agent?
The main buyers and readers of my books are female and enjoy seeing real historical women, (especially unsung heroes) reflected in stories of WW2. A female protagonist was also suggested by the publisher, who had a specific target audience in mind for the book. However, I have always enjoyed writing all sorts of characters, and in fact two of the main point of view characters in The Silk Code are men. Both Tom Lockwood the coding trainer, who is fighting to uncover the deadly Abwehr game, and Neil Callaghan, the man recruited by the British Union of Fascists, play a huge part in the novel.
