Christine Granville: Churchill's Beloved Spy from Polish Aristocracy

Christine Granville, Britain's longest-serving World War Two spy, is a forgotten hero who risked her life on dangerous missions across Europe. Born Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek, she was the daughter of a Polish count and spent a privileged childhood running free on a grand estate. When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Granville and her husband traveled to Britain to join the war effort. Granville, driven by her high-adrenaline personality, demanded to be taken on by MI6 and became their first female recruit. She carried out numerous daring missions in Hungary, Egypt, and France, often traveling undercover and avoiding capture. Granville's quick thinking, charm, and ability to manipulate and persuade made her an extraordinary agent. She even managed to turn a guard dog into her pet on two occasions. Granville's heroism and bravery during the war went unrecognized after its end, and she faced discrimination and abandonment in Britain. Tragically, she was murdered by an obsessed former lover in a London hotel. Granville's story has faded from memory, but efforts are being made to recognize her contributions, including the placement of a blue plaque at the hotel where she was killed. Claire Mulley, a historian and author, has championed Granville's story and aims to bring her the recognition she deserves.