'The painful aftermath': reactions to the publication of SOE in France.

This article considers the aftermath of the publication of SOE in France. A groundbreaking official account of a secret wartime organisation, publication was followed by complaints and legal action. It examines how Whitehall responded to the negative fallout, and the tensions with the author, Professor MRD Foot, as officials refused to accept responsibility for the lack of personal testimony in the work, and prioritised settling legal cases and the avoidance of any further legal action as changes to the text were made for a revised first edition. The article also reflects upon whether the experience had any impact upon subsequent intelligence-related official histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]