Enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of jennifer swansons spies, lies, and disguise. Best espionage books nonfiction some of the best books about real life spies and espionage. Fill up your kindle with 2020s mustread books from sally rooneys normal people to david. Top 10 books about spies the literature of espionage, like its subjects, is often not to be trusted. Discover the best espionage true accounts in best sellers. The true story of world war iis most highly decorated spy by larry loftis. Alex rider, young informal mi6 agent in anthony horowitzs alex rider series. New yorker staff writer williamss debut is granular in detail and epic in scope, ranging from mongolia over 65 million years ago, when the mighty tarbosaurus bataar roamed the gobi desert, to the u. A few authors are particularly diligent about research and accuracy, so most of what ive picked up is probably true.
These books are not just about spies but also about intelligence agencies. Five great books about spies and the cia short stack. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. In celebration of womens history month, we pulled together a wonderful sampling of spy novels written by women featuring female spies. The best books on spies five books expert recommendations. Up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity at this site. What are the best nonfiction books about espionage that. Download the two spies ebook for free at freeebooks.
Tells the true story of odette sansom, the british spy who operated in occupied france and fell in love with her commanding officer during world war ii. The new spymasters, my new book, is the product of nearly 20 years of writing. Browse thousands of bestsellers, new releases, and classic novels from a wide range of genres, including literary fiction, mystery, thrillers, historical fiction, and romance. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide.
The cia, mi5 and mossad have gone to extraordinary lengths to prevent unauthorized books being printed anywhere. Secret lives at the birth of israel is more than just its cover story. The following 30 pages are in this category, out of 30 total. There are plenty of great books about spies out there for people who think theyve read all the great books about spies already. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Two great truthseekers arose from twentiethcentury fiction. That said, as an agent theres still plenty of life left in the contemporary as well as historical spy novel. Best espionage books nonfiction 106 books goodreads. This is the genocide for profit story that you were not mean to know. What advice would you give for budding spy writers. This is a list of fictional secret agents and spies books.
In spies, lies, and disguise, author jennifer swanson takes readers behindthescenes to explore some genuinely astonishing world war ii exploits and accomplishments. Books on spies fiction or nonfiction posted by htowntiger90 on 71219 at 9. The spies in the seven novels below have these qualities in spades. Books about espionage before and during world war ii. The best nonfiction books on espionage often read like novels. Pages in category nonfiction books about espionage the following 29 pages are in this category, out of 29 total. Like its subjects, matti friedmans spies of no country. Most of us are familiar with the fictionalized versions of spy stories, but how much of it is based on reality. Washingtons spies, now an original series on amc based on remarkable new research, acclaimed historian alexander rose brings to life the true story of the spy ring that helped america win the revolutionary war.
Obsession, betrayal, and the search for the earths ultimate trophy paige williams hachette. The fbis hunt for a traitor whose espionage scheme employed complex coded. This classic anthology, with a new introduction by the former head of mi5, stella rimington, includes stories by some of the great. True stories featuring women spies posted about 1 year ago by april s. Science fiction espionage kindle edition by kagan, dale a download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Tricksters choice daughter of the lioness, book 1 tamora pierce.
Set against the backdrop of 1980s thatcherism and the iraqiran 8 year war, p j seddons exciting debut novel manages a fine balance between humour, political intrigue and ultimate tragedy through the character of fletcher, an employee who stumbles across a secret that would topple his company. Five essential books on reallife espionage, from the story of legendary spymaster m to the autobiography of double agent kim philby. The spies of 1948 who helped win the war behind enemy lines at the birth of the israeli secret service. I have been watching the new show on fx called the americans and i find it really interesting. Much of the source material for this book was only recently declassified, and contains neverbeforeseen photographs and coded messages. But when you read some of the remarkable true stories in the great spy books listed below, you may begin to wonder if le carre and his compatriots left the good parts out of their novels. From the trusted writers of national geographic comes the littleknown true story of the spies that operated behind the scenes during the second world war. Authoritatively ranked lists of books sold in the united states, sorted by format and genre. Can anyone recommend some good nonfiction spy books. Therein lies the root of the brilliantly dangerous allied plan which mi5 called double crossrecounted by macintyre with. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading spies by night.
For them, adopting various aliases, sabotaging nazi plans, and infiltrating enemy headquarters is simply all in a days work. Some of the best books about real life spies and espionage. I am describing the following books because i have read them and they are worth a read, boy they are a must read. I remember seeing some show on the history channel about spies and. All of them are not written by former spies but definitely. Any method of seeking the truth can also be used to plant a lie. What are good books nonfiction about spies written by. Yes, its written by a man called john masterman, who was an oxford academic and historian and latterly became provost of. The unfamiliar terrain of britains american colonies made it vital for both sides to gain knowledge of enemy troop movements during the revolutionary war.
An historical event so rich in detail and possibilities as the allies successful deception that made the normandy landing possible has given rise to many spy novels as well as passel of nonfiction books. Espionage fiction, lets say, is focused on intelligence gathering and the inner lives of spies. Theres also the suspicion there are many more spies of the period still to be uncovered. The spy s bedside book by hugh greene and edited by graham greene 1957 on its first appearance in 1957, hugh and graham greenes the spy s bedside book provoked a storm of interest, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, 100 copies were bought by east german intelligence. More than two dozen good nonfiction books about espionage for good or ill, a fair amount of what ive learned about espionage over the years has come from reading spy stories. Our vision for the year ahead what to look out for in irish and international fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Nonfiction books by exspies come in 2 versions, the phil agee tellall or the official story, or authorized version. Mustread books about spies for enthusiasts including how to catch a russian spy by naveed jamali, strangers on a bridge by. The women spies of historical crime fiction crimereads. From an actorturnedspy to an allfemale team of covert operatives, theyd hold their own alongside historys most famous world war ii spies.
And, whether in fact or fiction, the literature of espionage continues to. Beneath that, though, lies an examination of identity and the humanity behind both sides of the ongoing arabisraeli conflict. It can be fiction, nonfiction but most importantly exciting. Chesterton 1874 1936 another delightful and sharply pointed excursion into the topics of the day, and of this day as well, with gilbert keith chesterton. Veteran intel guys from both sides collaborated on a book about the early stages of the cold war in berlin. My ten year journey from therapist to cia courier and sanctioned kills a true story by. This is a book about double agents in world war ii, isnt it. Cleverly plotted and dashingly executed, these books always guarantee readers a riproaring good time. I want books that are set in the world wars and about spies during the wars how they managed to maintain their life. Yes theres plenty of overlapthats why these books are so great. When it comes to spy stories, the truth is often stranger and more gripping than fiction. Some of historys greatest spy fiction writersincluding john le carre, ian fleming, and graham greenewere spies themselves, and drew on that experience when writing their famous fictional spy books. Spy thrillers are focused on the actions of spies and the geopolitical and military ramifications of their spycraft.
1173 981 575 451 1060 1362 876 1223 1300 1197 1053 1160 1368 659 1421 1043 877 1421 998 1036 1242 915 569 1381 708 874 373 755 42 383 996 966