The Life That I Have

This poignant, haunting poem, originally written for the author's fiancee who died in a plane crash in 1943, was given to the SOE agent Violette Szabo as her code poem, before she was dropped into Occupied France in 1944. It afterwards became famous through the film of her life, 'Carve Her Name With Pride', starring Virginia McKenna, and has been a source of inspiration ever since to those who have lost a loved one or are themselves facing death. Now one of the best loved poems in the English language, 'The Life That I Have' is here presented as a special illustrated gift book, with pencil drawings by the artist Elena Gaussen Marks, the author's wife, who has used many scenes associated with his life to convey the symbolism of the words, Her pencil sketch of Violette Szabo, based on a photograph, is also included.