'The tortuousness of our Albanian allies': Special Operations Executive in Albania through the eyes of Anthony Quayle's Eight hours from England

摘要

This article reveals the issues that SOE operatives faced in Albania by exploring Anthony Quayle's 1945 spy novel Eight hours from England, which was based on Quayle's experiences as a secret agent in Albania. It details SOE's inability to achieve effective relations with communist and anti-communist resistance networks which, while claiming to be fighting the Axis occupiers, were more interested in fighting each other. Also, this article will demonstrate the psychological toll that this mission had on Quayle as he changed from being enthusiastic for success to expressing an abhorrence for his Albanian allies after countless setbacks and betrayals.