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A Suspicion of Spies, by Tim Spicer

A Suspicion of Spies, by Tim Spicer

A biography of the spy Biffy Dunderdale offers an invaluable insight into the key role he played in MI6.

Wilfred ‘Biffy’ Dunderdale often features as a daring bit-part player in World War II espionage books, but now this extraordinary character takes centre stage in Tim Spicer’s insightful biography. Dunderdale was an iron fist in a velvet glove. He combined charm with...

The Model Bond: Wilfred ‘Biffy’ Dunderdale

The Model Bond: Wilfred ‘Biffy’ Dunderdale

Wilfred Dunderdale was more Bond than Smiley.
Tim Spicer

1920 Odessa Ukraine. The Russian Civil War is at its height, a young British man working for Naval Intelligence picks up a report from one of his agents. The crew of the Russian submarine OUTKA are going to mutiny and throw their officers overboard. He leads a party...

SpyMasters, by Antonia Senior

SpyMasters, by Antonia Senior

The editor of a new anthology introduces the collection.

In the years just before the First World War, a boy was growing up in Imperial India. He was obstinate and full of life. Still a toddler, he chatted to the servants in Hindustani. His father nicknamed him Kim, after the spy hero of Rudyard Kipling’s novel, who could...

The Secret Life of John Le Carré: Adam Sisman interviewed by Richard Foreman

The Secret Life of John Le Carré: Adam Sisman interviewed by Richard Foreman

Spy novelist and publisher Richard Foreman sat down with the great novelist's biographer to discuss the new book.

Adam Sisman, can you first tell us about the genesis of the book, The Secret Life of John le Carré? This shorter work serves as a coda to your full-length biography (although it can be read without being familiar with that work). When did you initially have the idea...

2024 Summer Reads from Aspects of History

2024 Summer Reads from Aspects of History

Our authors and contributors recommend books to take on summer holidays.

Summer Reads from Aspects of HistoryAlan Bardos Author of Rising TideMunich Wolf, by Rory Clements is set in 1935 Munich. When the body of a young English socialite is found, Kripo detective Sebastian Wolff is called in to solve the politically sensitive case. The...

The Real Special Relationship, by Michael Smith

The Real Special Relationship, by Michael Smith

A fabulously insightful parallel history.

On the day Britain declared war on Germany, 3 September 1939, Parliament immediately passed The National Service (Armed Forces) Act.  All men aged between 18 and 41 were required to register for service. My grandfather John James Doherty ‘JJ’, a talented linguist,...

History and the National Psyche

History and the National Psyche

Our Editor at Large is a huge enthusiast of the Chalke History Festival and here writes about what makes it his favourite history festival.

A couple of years ago at the Chalke History Festival, General Sir Simon Mayall, a popular member of the red trouser brigade, Balliol man, and retired military top brass strode onto stage to rapturous applause. Introducing his recently published memoirs he delivered a...

Queen High, by C.J. Carey

Queen High, by C.J. Carey

An alternate reality where Wallis Simpson is queen is a compulsive literary thriller.

Queen High is CJ Carey’s sequel to her much acclaimed novel Widowland, both books are counter factual dystopian novels in a similar vein to 1984, Fatherland and Brave New World. They are set in a 1950s Britain where Lord Halifax became Prime Minister rather than...

Seizing Eichmann

Seizing Eichmann

The story of Adolf Eichmann's capture from Argentina by Mossad agents in May 1960, culminating in his trial and execution.

Seizing Eichmann He was walking down the street clutching a large bouquet of flowers, a smiling family man by the name of Ricardo Klement. He was looking forward to celebrating his silver wedding anniversary that evening. When he reached his house on Garibaldi Street...

A Faithful Spy, by Jimmy Burns

A Faithful Spy, by Jimmy Burns

A biography of the spy Walter Bell is absorbing and offers fresh insight.

Jimmy Burns’ biography of Walter Bell, charts the life of one of Britain’s most successful and influential intelligence officers. The fact that Bell is so little known outside of intelligence circles testifies to this success. Walter Bell appears to have been a...