A quote (for Churchill’s Iceman)
“The papers that MI5 released in 2009 have led to the discovery of a wonderful new subject for modern biography. Geoffrey Pyke was a tragic and lonely genius who attempted to plant new ideas into the unresponsive soil of Britain during the first half of the twentieth century. His final wish “to be forgotten as if I had never lived” has now been dramatically eclipsed by this amazing story of mystery and adventure. It is as if he had been invented by G. K. Chesterton and given posthumous fame by John le Carré – which underlines the extraordinary accomplishment of his actual biographer Henry Hemming.”
Sir Michael Holroyd
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I shall be ordering this from the publisher on Monday . It sounds a thoroughly absorbing and fantastic read. Moreover I hope to learn where Pyke resided during the 2nd world war – I believe my niece may be about to move into his house at that time. In Hextable, she has been told it was known locally as the Scientist’s house. Any information in this respect would be immensely welcome and gratefully received.
V alerie Kettley
Thanks for this Valerie and sorry not to reply sooner. Pyke lived in various places during the war, yet as far as I know he spent most his time in north or west London. He started off on Great Ormond Street, then to Downshire Hill, in Hampstead, before being sent to Washington D. C. by Churchill and later on to Canada. He was also in Piccadilly for a while, first in St James’s Square and later The Albany, before moving to Steele’s Road in Hampstead where he lived out the rest of his life. Hope this helps, and do let me know which scientist it was in Hextable.
henry