Countess Quintanilla (Romanones) of Spain, Espionage and the Duchess
Livadia
Quintanilla (later Romanones) who worked for the OSS during WW2 and
later unofficially for the CIA.
The countess was a very attractive young American woman (formerly Aline
Griffith of Pearl River, NY), who graduated from US espionage school and
was assigned to work out of Madrid where she excelled in fitting into
high society and helped uncover or expose various unsavory or illegal
activities/individuals.
In the course of her work she met and later married the Comde de
Quantanilla -- and became a countess.
Her marriage into Spanish nobility broadened her circle even more which
included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor -- the latter, who according to
the countess, assisted her in trying to identify and expose a mole at
NATO in Paris.
The books are full of cloak and dagger stuff as you might imagine and
are very entertaining to read, but now I wonder...
1) Does anyone know more about the Count/Countess of Quintanilla (later
Romanones)? Supposedly the family has been titled in Spain since the
Crusades...
2) Can anyone shed any light on how much of these tales are fact or
fiction? The preface in each says the stories are true, but some names
have been changed to protect both the guilty and innocent...
3) Any additional references you've come across about Wallis Simpson
cooperating with the OSS during the war?
According to the author, Wallis agreed to cooperate only if no one knew.
"Not even my romance (supposedly her affectionate way of referring to
the Duke) can know."
Apparently, once in the midst of things, the Duchess thought the whole
adventure was great fun -- a welcome bit of excitement in the rather
predictable and reserved life she and the Duke had come to share.
Though the last one was published in the late 80's or early 90's, I
think all five books are out of print now.
Regardless, they're a great romp and add a whole different perspective
on the life of some royals during the war.
Opinions/observations of others who may have also read any or all of her
books or have more information about the Countess/Duchess et. al. would
be appreciated.
Or I would be happy to share more details about/from the books if anyone
else is intrigued...
Livadia
Martha Tassi
Livadia wrote:
==================================================
Yes! Please share - I tried to find the books after seeing her in an
interview but have had no luck.
-Martha
==================================================
BZ Lane
The Spy Wore Red is apparently available on audio tapes here on the web
from Blackstones, I think it is. Sounds Quite enthralling...You've
piqued interest Hugely, dear girl.
Here are some facts about Count Romanones, who, I imagine would have
been Aline's Father-in-law...He eventually became an intelligence agent.
Subject:Romanones-begins circa 8th para
Overture to the Spanish Revolution
Political rotation, which in Spain took the form of Constitutionalists
and Absolutionists alternating in power (the clasico turno), collapsed
beyond repair with a coup d'etat mounted in the capital of Catalonia by
a drunken, cantankerous general, in the year
1923.
The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera is the direct outcome of politics
pursued amid maladministration, monopolies, bureaucratic perks,
rake-offs, concessions and a whole mass of profiteering operated with
the blessing of officialdom.
The military reaction of 1923 was a direct result of one of the reasons
why our country is impoverished, one which has absorbed nearly the whole
national budget.
Spain's colonial power spawned a rogue's gallery of adventurers,
mercenaries, professional politicians, and a cohort of dealers in cheap
flesh.
As long as the bureaucracy of the sabre and the captains of industry had
plenty of scope to plunder and loot in the overseas possessions, then
Spain as such could go on her way more or less unaffected. But colonial
disaster held the key to the collapse of this situation, which was
maintained by an unscrupulous, ruthless minority.
At the close of the XIXth century the military were deprived of the
spoils they craved. They had no option but to return to the peninsula,
braid saturated in blood, bearing the shame of beings inept even in
their own profession-that of bearing arms.
From that moment forward, the Spanish people have been confronted by a
problem fraught with difficulties. Thousands of these proteges of a
syphilitic king returned to devour the natives of the mother country,
since they no longer had the opportunity to go on impoverishing the
peoples of the colonies, who cursed Spain's representatives as thieves
and assassins in general's sashes and chevrons.
The public exchequer stood in need of an immediate outlet. The Algeciras
conference laid the borders of Morocco open to attack. The mines of the
Rif, coveted by the Count of Romanones, became an abyss demanding the
blood and the money of the Spanish people.
1,000,000,000 pesetas the Moroccan venture has cost the nation's
exchequer, plus many thousands of lives sacrificed to the financial
cartel represented by the farmer Count of Romanones.
The most startling points in this Spanish slaughter, revolving around
the iron deposits in the tribal territory of Beni-Bu-Ifrur, near the
mountain of Af-Laten, are the tragedies of Baranco del Lobo and Anual.
The military have ever been a millstone about the neck of the working
people. Look at the Defence Juntas, of evil memory. The moving spirit
behind them, Colonel Marquez, tried to infuse them with a liberal
outlook, but La Cierva's patronage intrigues far outweighed the
transitory good will of a colonel who ended up persecuted and imprisoned
in Monyuich.
General Primo de Rivera was the incarnation of this whole past we have
mentioned. Thanks to the strength of Lopez Ochoa - and with the passive
help of the bourgeoisie, the latifundists, the clergy, and the
financiers - he brandished his sword from the lofty heights of power.
There is written proof that this former Captain General of Catalonia
entered the fray for the purpose of cancelling out the Picasso inquiry's
findings-in which Alfonso XIII and his man of straw, Silvestre the
general, were directly implicated. This interpretation of the facts is
undoubtedly well-founded; but what precipitated the military's move was
unquestionably the disquiet among the working class. Having had its fill
of outrage and systematic thievery, the working class was preparing to
banish those responsible for its misfortune from Spanish soil. The
financial and industrial bourgeoisie placed all their resources at the
disposal of the army. They restricted credit, sabotaged the economy,
applied the lock-out and provoked strikes. Great displays of rejoicing
from the Catalan bourgeoisie greeted the army's Polish style
dictatorship.
The Primo de Rivera era must be categorised as an effort by the ruling
class to weaken the working class, who actions were to take on a more
positive form at a later date. This reprisal was an updated, more
comprehensive re-enactment of the past, with the same moral turpitude
and eternal arrogance that have martyred the corpse of a Spain that is
ever noble in its rags.
This philandering general was replaced by Berenguer who was himself
supplanted by Aznar. And, to top it all, it was the Count of
Romanones-an agent of the intelligence service-who supervised the
transfer of power from the Monarchy to his former secretary, Don Niceto
Alcala Zamora. He along with the son of Maura and with the assistance of
Maranon, the palace physician (and also of the intelligence service),
laid the foundations for a Republic which was bound to end in the most
frightful stench.
The new Republic was completely unpopular. Instead of following
socialist guidelines, forged in the clamour of the streets, the same
parasites as in the days of the Bourbons, hold sway. Power is in the
hands of politicians who were good servants of the monarchy. Alcala
Zamora was a recalcitrant monarchist, a representative of the clergy and
latifundists. Azana once belonged to the party of Melquiades Alvarez:
Miguel Maura, another royalist; Alejandro Lerroux, a man without honour
. .
Disconsolate Spain took the path of betrayals, of useless secret
meetings. April's comedy was to be paid for with torrents of blood.
What the April Republic was to bring forth was catastrophe. Son of
Ferrer's murderer, author of 108 deaths, the minister who gave the order
to fire "at will" turned our countryside into a network of funeral
crosses.
Seeing their hopes violently crushed, the working masses turned angrily
against the April fiasco. Miguel Maura mobilised the armed forces of his
brand-new Republic to crush and destroy the workers. Pasajes Arnedo,
Castilblanco, Seville, Catalonia . . . all describe the true nature of
the Republic that exiles the monarch but with his monies intact, and
conveys him in a ship of the line. Alfonso XIII's family shook hands
warmly with General Sanjurjo. In August 1932, and again in July 1936.
The general unleashed attacks on a people betrayed by politicians who
had given the general a free hand. He was an assassin with a royalist
background. According to reports, the Count of Romanones said in the
station at El Escorial: "Hasta muy pronto" (Until we meet again, very
soon).
Another reference yielded the information that this Count was on the
first board of directors of a famous winery in the Iberian Peninsula.
Hope this furthers your quest.
BZ
Livadia
>Here are some facts about Count
>Romanones, who, I imagine would have
>been Aline's Father-in-law...
Thanks, BZ.
I'm just finishing up Aline's first book which concentrates more on her
husband's ancestors and how she rescued and restored one of the family's
ancient "fincas" (palacial ranch estates) than her later escapades as an
OSS spy, but I'll compare notes as I go along. :)
Livadia
Livadia
>>Just re-read a series of books written
>>by the Spanish Countess of Quintanilla
>>(later Romanones) who worked for the
>>OSS during WW2 and later unofficially
>>for the CIA.
>>
>>
>>Or I would be happy to share more
>>details about/from the books if anyone
>>else is intrigued...
>>Livadia
>
>=================================
>Yes! Please share - I tried to find the >books after seeing her in an
interview but
>have had no luck.
>-Martha
>=================================
To date, The Countess of Romanones (nee' Aline Griffith) has written
five books.
The first, "The Earth Rests Lightly," is more about the history of her
husband's noble family and her part in rescuing and restoring an ancient
family "finca" (palatial ranch estate) in a remote part of rural Spain.
It's an interesting account, but to be truthful, she really shines as a
storyteller in her later books which chronicle her adventures as an U.S.
espionage agent during WWII.
There are four books in that series: "The Spy Wore Red," "The Spy Went
Dancing," "The Spy Wore Pearls" and "The Well-Dressed Assassin."
In the first three she relates various tales about her double life as a
Countess and OSS agent. Though the last book is based on actual events
and characters, she does disclose the book is also a bit of fiction, but
if you missed that caveat in the preface you'd never know.
("Dancing," if you're interested, is the book which details Wallis
Simpson's assistance in helping identify and trap a NATO mole.)
Perhaps I was a bit hasty in saying I could share tidbits from the books
-- in hindsight, her adventures were so varied and involved I could
never do them justice, I'm afraid.
Suffice to say, the books are great fun, especially since the Countess
rubbed shoulders with many in high society, including celebrities like
Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, Richard Burton and Liz Taylor to name a
few.
Her accounts of some of those encounters and friendships as well as
social events like the Rothschild's annual masked ball are almost as
entertaining as her cloak and dagger intrigues.
BZ mentioned earlier that at least one of the books is available on
tape. I can't confirm that, but I know copies of all of her books
generally can be found on a used book site like www.bibliofind.com,
www.bibliocity.com or even Powell's Books out of Portland, OR.
In fact, I just purchased a copy of "Dancing" from one of the above, to
give to a friend.
The books also can be found at many libraries as the titles are often
included on spy/mystery book club readers lists.
If you can get your hands on a copy of any of Griffith's books, I'm sure
you'd find her style and life story worth your time. Simply great fun!
Best,
Livadia
BZ Lane
Liv...@webtv.net (Livadia) Re: Countess Quintanilla (Romanones) of
Spain, Espionage and the D...
Sounds wizard! I'm thinking about the set of her books on tape....I've
not tried tapes before and don't reccognize the narrator, so am not sure
yet.
I may be wrong about that particular Count's relation-ship to Aline.
BZ
Susan Cohen
Livadia wrote:
> ("Dancing," if you're interested, is the book which details Wallis
> Simpson's assistance in helping identify and trap a NATO mole.)
Which wouldn't be the first time Wallis had helped
America, even indirectly, as a spy (also indirectly).
As the wife of a Naval Officer in the 20's, she acted -
as did many other such wives - as a courier.
Susan
Mamalov
newspaper articles around then. She tells some wonderful stories, and
apparently they really are true! Definitely a fascinating woman. I've also seen
her on tv.
If you haven't read the books, they're worth the time.
I think the Duchess of Windsor was more sympathetic to the Natzis than to the
Allies for most of the first parts of the war; then the light dawned.
Apparently, the Germans had had an idea of putting David back on the throne in
England after they won, and letting him be their puppet king. The Duchess is
said to have liked the idea of being Queen very much.
After the war, I doubt she was involved in much drama of any political sort.
Alene Romanones seems very, very, smart, elegant, and truly a unique woman. I
may not have spelled her first name right, it's just slightly off the normal
spelling but I can't remember how.
Mama
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Just re-read a series of books written by the Spanish Countess of
Quintanilla (later Romanones) who worked for the OSS during WW2 and
later unofficially for the CIA.
The countess was a very attractive young American woman (formerly Aline
Or I would be happy to share more details about/from the books if anyone
else is intrigued...
Livadia
>>
Mama — Mam...@aol.com