Biographical note:

Sinclair McKay is author of the bestselling The Secret Life of Bletchley Park and The Secret Listeners for Aurum, as well as histories of Hammer films, the James Bond films, and the pastime of rambling. He lives in London.

Main description:

Imagine sitting behind a desk, in a classroom, miles from anywhere in the English countryside, alongside dozens of fellow students, dreaming of being parachuted into Occupied France to undertake daring missions against Hitler's forces. What were you taught? What text books did they give you, and what homework and exams were you expected to pass in order to make the grade?