W. Stanley Moss

W. Stanley Moss (1921-1965) was a British Special Operations Executive (SOE) officer and writer, best known for his participation in and subsequent documentation of the successful kidnapping of German General Heinrich Kreipe during World War II. His book "Ill Met By Moonlight" (1950) chronicled the Cretan operation in which he and Patrick Leigh Fermor led a small team that abducted the German commander and evacuated him to Egypt. The book was later adapted into a 1957 film starring Dirk Bogarde. Beyond his wartime exploits, Moss served as a regular officer in the Coldstream Guards and worked as a journalist for The Times. He also wrote a second book, "A War of Shadows" (1952), detailing his experiences in Macedonia, Crete, and Thailand during the war. Moss was awarded the Military Cross for his service and continued to maintain connections with Crete throughout his life. His wartime diary, which formed the basis of "Ill Met By Moonlight," is now held in the National Library of Scotland.

Readers praise Moss's clear, factual writing style in documenting his WWII experiences, particularly in "Ill Met By Moonlight." Many note his ability to capture the tension and danger of the Cretan operation without sensationalism. What readers liked: - First-hand historical accuracy - Straightforward prose and pacing - Details about local Cretan resistance fighters - Inclusion of original diary entries - Balance between military details and human elements What readers disliked: - Some found the writing dry compared to modern military memoirs - Limited personal reflection or emotional depth - Assumes reader knowledge of WWII context - Brief treatment of certain events Ratings: Goodreads: "Ill Met By Moonlight" - 4.1/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: "Ill Met By Moonlight" - 4.4/5 (150+ ratings) "A War of Shadows" has fewer reviews but similar ratings. One reader noted: "Moss lets the extraordinary events speak for themselves without embellishment - a refreshing approach to war memoir writing."

Ill Met by Moonlight (1950) A firsthand account of the WWII mission to kidnap German General Heinrich Kreipe from Nazi-occupied Crete, based on Moss's wartime diary as an SOE officer.

A War of Shadows (1952) A detailed chronicle of Moss's wartime experiences as an SOE operative in Macedonia, Crete, and Thailand during World War II.

Patrick Leigh Fermor wrote accounts of his wartime experiences and European travels that share the same first-hand perspective of special operations and Greek culture as Moss. His books like "A Time of Gifts" and "Abducting a General" cover similar territory both geographically and thematically.

Fitzroy Maclean operated as a British special forces commander in Yugoslavia during WWII and wrote about his experiences in "Eastern Approaches." His combination of military memoir and cultural observation mirrors Moss's style and subject matter.

Peter Fleming worked in military intelligence and wrote accounts of his operations in Asia during WWII. His books "News from Tartary" and "Brazilian Adventure" blend military operations with travel writing in the same way Moss does.

Christopher Woods served in the Special Operations Executive and documented his experiences in Greece during WWII. His book "Something of Value" covers operations in the same theater as Moss's work and provides similar insights into resistance operations.

Nicholas Hammond worked in Greece with the resistance during WWII and wrote about his experiences there. His accounts in "Venture into Greece" deal with the same combination of special operations and Greek culture that appears in Moss's writing.