Books: “Operation Heartbreak” by Duff Cooper (1950)

Willie Maryston, the protagonist of Duff Cooper’s novel “Operation Heartbreak” (1950), can’t seem to catch a break. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by his father’s friend’s family in early 20th-century London. His upbringing is comfortable but what he really wants is to join the military and go to war.

Unfortunately, as he is just preparing to go to France in 1918, (and he is finally of age to do so), WWI comes to an end. Disappointed, Willie keeps a stiff upper lip and soldiers on, completing tours of duty in India and Egypt over the next two decades. But he never fails to feel inferior to his fellow soldiers because they’ve been to war and he hasn’t.

Young Willie isn’t lucky in love, either. In both his serious romances the women lead him on and at the last moment, ditch him. He’s the eternal Heartbroken Kid.

What follows is an ending to this novel so spectacular, I dare not reveal it. Simply be advised that Willie does eventually serve his country, but not in the way anyone predicted.

“Operation Heartbreak” is based on Operation Mincemeat, a British operation conducted during WWII designed to camouflage the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. The similarly named Broadway play “Operation Mincemeat” found comedy gold in the story; it won the 2024 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, and the 2025 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Equally remarkable is the author himself, a career politician who resigned from Neville Chamberlain’s cabinet over the Munich appeasement in 1938. He subsequently joined Churchill’s cabinet as Secretary of State for War and later the UK ambassador to France.

Once he retired, Duff Cooper devoted his time to writing books like this one. What a treat.

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