Clare Mulley: What puts spark into my life?
Clare Mulley is one of the most remarkable people I have ever met. Her work as an author and broadcaster have won her national and international honours and awards. Her dedication to social justice and protecting the rights of women have spanned three decades and are intrinsically woven through the histories of the women whose biographies she recounts in her books. In her best-selling book , ‘The Spy Who Loved’, Clare delves into the fearless life of Krystyna Skarbek, aka Christine Granville, a special agent whose work for the British Intelligence includes her being parachuted into occupied France and espionage which significantly contribute to the Allied war efforts during the Second World War.
For me, Clare’s most distinctive quality is her unstoppable drive and passion for not letting us forget, to not allow time to spread its thick fog over the memories of those who made a difference; those whose contributions need remembering and keep pristine from distortion. And even more importantly, giving them the voice that would otherwise be denied to them or be lost in the silence.
I am thrilled that today, Clare shares with us a snippet of what ‘puts spark’ into her life.
What puts spark into my life?
At the moment, I am loving researching my next book. Nothing beats getting on a train and heading to a new archive or to interview a veteran or another witness of history…it is not only a privilege but also often a real adventure to follow in the footsteps of the remarkable women I write about, and it is incredibly exciting when I find a long neglected diary or some letters that shed new light on their actions or emotions. Later this year, I will be writing my next book which is a more solitary work.
Clare’s next book is based on the life of Elzbieta Zawacka, aka ‘Zo’ who was the only woman to ever parachute into Nazi occupied Poland.
Thank you Clare and I look forward to reading your amazing new work!