A Game of Birds and Wolves

The Ingenious Young Women Whose Secret Board Game Helped Win World War II

De: Simon Parkin

Narrado por: Elliot Fitzpatrick

As heard on the New Yorker Radio Hour: The triumphant and "engaging history" (The New Yorker) of the young women who devised a winning strategy that defeated Nazi U-boats and delivered a decisive victory in the Battle of the Atlantic.

By 1941, Winston Churchill had come to believe that the outcome of World War II rested on the battle for the Atlantic. A grand strategy game was devised by Captain Gilbert Roberts and a group of ten Wrens (members of the Women's Royal Naval Service) assigned to his team in an attempt to reveal the tactics behind the vicious success of the German U-boats. Played on a linoleum floor divided into painted squares, it required model ships to be moved across a make-believe ocean in a manner reminiscent of the childhood game, Battleship. Through play, the designers developed "Operation Raspberry," a counter-maneuver that helped turn the tide of World War II.

Combining vibrant novelistic storytelling with extensive research, interviews, and previously unpublished accounts, Simon Parkin describes for the first time the role that women played in developing the Allied strategy that, in the words of one admiral, "contributed in no small measure to the final defeat of Germany." Rich with unforgettable cinematic detail and larger-than-life characters, A Game of Birds and Wolves is a heart-wrenching tale of ingenuity, dedication, perseverance, and love, bringing to life the imagination and sacrifice required to defeat the Nazis at sea.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"[A Game of Birds and Wolves] brings to life one of the most elusive aspects of war...compelling."—New York Times Book Review

"In this engaging history...Parkin paints a vivid picture of training sessions in which seasoned sailors chafed at being tutored by 'an inexperienced girl,' and captures each maneuver in the ensuing sea battles with zeal."—The New Yorker

"A thoroughly absorbing book, drawing upon archives and oral histories. It reads like a thriller, with its accounts of nerve-wracking battles, extreme weather, icebergs, and ships sunk in a matter of minutes."—The Wall Street Journal

"This stirring history...redresses a balance: none in this doughty sisterhood has ever been publicly honoured."—Nature

"Through assiduous research and well-paced narrative, Simon Parkin has given us an extraordinary, little-known story from World War II. . . . A Game of Birds and Wolves is a work of nonfiction that reads in part like a thriller."—Pittsburgh-Post Gazette

"Parkin's book is extensively researched, well written, and tells an engrossing story of a little-known topic."—Science

"History writing at its best."—Booklist, starred review

"Parkin does a masterful job of evoking the sweep of this vital piece of naval history in both broad strokes and the telling detail. Every war buff will want to read this book. And anyone interested in strategy would be wise to read it as well."—New York Journal of Books

"Simon Parkin's book rips along at full sail and is full of personality and personalities. Above all, it brings a barely known aspect of the sea war out into the light. Which isa triumph in itself."—Sunday Express (U.K.)

"Like a well-designed game, A Game of Birds and Wolves is fun, informative and intense."—BookPage

"A vivid glimpse of a little-known World War II effort...Parkin weaves this history together like a novel, switching back and forth among various characters and storylines to reveal a fascinating fight for freedom; both for Britain and the young women who defied contemporary norms to serve their country."—Library Journal

"With novelistic flair, Parkin transforms material gathered from research, interviews, and unpublished accounts into a highly readable book that celebrates the ingenuity of a British naval "reject" and the accomplishments of the formerly faceless women never officially rewarded for their contribution to the Allied defeat of Germany. A lively, sharp WWII history."—Kirkus Reviews

Title is misleading...

but the book is interesting.
It's about u-boat warfare in the Atlantic and the man who developed the game which was crucial to the British defense (used to develop strategy and train officials).
The fact that women were involved in this effort is effectively highlighted by the author but they aren't the focus here. Instead, his attempts to make the book about them give it a bit of a split personality.

So, I have some issues with the overall organization, but I gave the book 4 stars. Why? It's one of those history books which does work in this audio format. Overall, it's easy to stay engaged and follow ideas. In the end, it was a mix of military and social history that left me with new insights into WWII.

Honoring women's vital role

This account of the vital and unrecognized role of women during World War II's Battle of the Atlantic is well worth reading.

pretty good for non fiction

I mostly listen to fiction because I prefer to read non fiction. but I found this easy to listen to. almost to much background about the people involved but that just made the story more relatable. a lesser known part of WW2 I am glad to know about.

Important History

It was an important story to be told. And as the author says in the book, it is really heart breaking that relatives don't save women's diaries and papers. The men got medals and permission to write their histories but the women were held to the promises of secrecy that they made and minimal recognition. So much history is lost.

The Orchestration of WW-2

An Audible experience that put me on the front lines of WW-2 amidst the chaos of war and the militia responsible for saving lives while winning the war. This story acknowledges the significance of the Wrens. A must listen, or read, to understand what goes on behind the fighting front lines.