The Indomitable Florence Finch

The Untold Story of a War Widow Turned Resistance Fighter and Savior of American POWs

The Indomitable Florence Finch
Robert J Mrazek
RRP:
NZ$ 29.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 23.99
Paperback
h228 x 150mm - 368pg
7 Jul 2022 US
International import eta 7-19 days
9780316422239
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
"An American hero-long forgotten-finally gets her due in this riveting narrative. You will absolutely love Florence Finch: her grit, her compassion, her fight. This isn' t just history; she is a woman for our times. "-Keith O' Brien, the New York Times bestselling author of Fly GirlsThe riveting story of an unsung World War II hero who saved countless American lives in the Philippines, told by an award-winning military historian. When Florence Finch died at the age of 101, few of her Ithaca, NY neighbors knew that this unassuming Filipina native was a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, whose courage and sacrifice were unsurpassed in the Pacific War against Japan. Long accustomed to keeping her secrets close in service of the Allies, she waited fifty years to reveal the story of those dramatic and harrowing days to her own children. Florence was an unlikely warrior. She relied on her own intelligence and fortitude to survive on her own from the age of seven, facing bigotry as a mixed-race mestiza with the dual heritage of her American serviceman father and Filipina mother. As the war drew ever closer to the Philippines, Florence fell in love with a dashing American naval intelligence agent, Charles "Bing" Smith. In the wake of Bing' s sudden death in battle, Florence transformed from a mild-mannered young wife into a fervent resistance fighter. She conceived a bold plan to divert tons of precious fuel from the Japanese army, which was then sold on the black market to provide desperately needed medicine and food for hundreds of American POWs. In constant peril of arrest and execution, Florence fought to save others, even as the Japanese police closed in. With a wealth of original sources including taped interviews, personal journals, and unpublished memoirs, The Indomitable Florence Finch unfolds against the Bataan Death March, the fall of Corregidor, and the daily struggle to survive a brutal occupying force. Award-winning military historian and former Congressman Robert J. Mrazek brings to light this long-hidden American patriot. The Indomitable Florence Finch is the story of the transcendent bravery of a woman who belongs in America' s pantheon of war heroes.
One of BookBub' s 12 Best New Nonfiction Books This Summer!One of Amazon' s Best Books of July 2020! "Mrazek expertly. . . showcases a wealth of primary-source material, and skillfully invites readers into Florence' s remarkable life. An engaging read for all interested in women' s or 20th-century history. " --Library Journal (starred review) "Mrazek' s book provides readers with a firsthand account of the importance of alliances. . . . Readers also get a strong sense of the courage and fortitude demonstrated by both U. S. soldiers and Filipino civilians. . . . Mrazek documents the selfless courage of a civilian woman (and eventual Coast Guard female reservist) who served so others might live. "--Commander Brooke Millard, U. S. Coast Guard, Proceedings magazine "Intriguing. "--Newsday "Acclaimed novelist and historian Mrazek has crafted a compelling narrative which also provides rich coverage of the overall war in the Philippines. A perfect match of author and subject. "--Booklist "A crisp chronicle. . . . WWII buffs will relish this inside look at life under Japanese occupation. "--Publishers Weekly "An American hero-long forgotten-finally gets her due in this riveting narrative. You will absolutely love Florence Finch: her grit, her compassion, her fight. This isn' t just history; she is a woman for our times. " --Keith O' Brien, the New York Times bestselling author of Fly Girls "Robert Mrazek. . . tells inspiring stories of extraordinary heroism with verve and heart. The story of the amazing war widow, Florence Finch, who risked her life to save American POWs in the Pacific, is by far his finest yet. A beautiful hymn to a forgotten heroine. "--Alex Kershaw, bestselling author of The First Wave and Avenue of Spies "The richly detailed account of a courageous woman' s life. "--Kirkus Reviews "' Indomitable' is an understatement. Florence' s breathtaking story causes us to remember that one person, can indeed, change the lives of many. "--Judith L. Pearson, award-winning author of Belly of the Beast and Wolves at the Door "An incredibly moving and powerful story. In these absorbing pages, the Filipino experience in World War II comes to life. . . . Mrazek shows us the triumph of the human spirit over the worst of adversity. Florence Finch is a hero for the ages. "--John C. McManus, PhD, Curators' Distinguished Professor, Missouri S&T, author of Fire and Fortitude: The U. S. Army in the Pacific War "A wonderfully graphic and moving account of the selfless and courageous role played during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines by Florence Finch, one of the great unrecognized heroines of World War Two. "--Saul David, author of Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945 and The Force: The Legendary Special Ops Unit and WWII' s Mission Impossible "This soul-stirring story of a true heroine of World War II brought tears to my eyes. "--James M. McPherson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom "Thanks to Robert Mrazek' s rich and fast-paced narrative, we can add Florence Finch' s name to the honor roll of World War II heroes such as Raoul Wallenberg and Oskar Schindler who risked their lives to save others from certain death. Her thrilling story, expertly told by Mrazek, proves that there are still stories of Second World War heroism that remain untold. "--Thurston Clarke, author of Pearl Harbor Ghosts and the New York Times bestselling The Last Campaign "The searing tragedy and epic heroism of Florence Finch. . . is an enthralling and inspiring narrative. . . . A stellar hero of the Philippine resistance who risked all to save the lives of many others. "--Richard B. Frank, author of MacArthur and winner of the Truman Book Award
Bob Mrazek graduated from Cornell University, served in the U. S. Navy, and served five terms in the U. S. Congress. Mrazek authored the Amerasian Homecoming Act, which brought nineteen thousand children of Americans who served in Vietnam to the USA. He also authored the National Film Preservation Act, which established the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress to protect films of cultural importance. Since leaving Congress, Mrazek has authored ten books, earning the American Library Association' s top honor for military fiction, the Michael Shaara award for Civil War fiction, and Best Book (American History) from the Washington Post. He also wrote and co-directed the 2016 feature film The Congressman. He lives in upstate NY and Maine.
Status: Indent title, imported to order
ISBN-13: 9780316422239
Published: 7 Jul 2022
Published In: United States
Imprint: Hachette Books
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Format: Paperback
Height: 228mm
Width: 150mm
Spine: 26mm
Weight: 380g
Pages: 368

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