Owen Sheers: Resistance

June 29, 2006

I am very grateful to the staff and administrators of the following institutions: The Museum of the British Resistance Organisation; The Usk Rural Life Museum; Duxford Radio Society; The London Library; and the British Library.

Many books informed this novel, but David Lampe’s The Last Ditch and John Warwicker’s With Britain in Mortal Danger: Britain’s Most Secret Army were both particularly invaluable sources of information on the background, training, and operational details of the Auxiliary Units. Of Wet and Wildness by Odie Robey and The Farming Year by J. A. Scott Watson provided crucial insights into 1940s rural life.

I am also indebted to the many individuals who helped with my research, including: Nancy Selwood, William Gwyn, Ruth Parry of the Longtown Historical Society and her mother Mrs. Lewis, George Vater, Edward Main, and Juliet Gardiner.

For their support and guidance, I’d like to thank Lee, Angus, and everyone else at Faber; Zoë and Susannah at Rogers, Coleridge & White; Trevor Horwood for his accurate eye; Luke Epplin, Eric Chinski, and Dilwyn; and Lisa, for her unfailing encouragement and advice; and of course, my ever resourceful parents.