M

Maxwell Knight, MI5's Greatest Spymaster

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Pub Date 04 May 2017 | Archive Date 29 Jun 2017

Description

'Vividly imagined and prodigiously researched' Helen Davies, The Times, Books of the Year

'A rewarding read' John Preston, Daily Mail, Books of the Year

Maxwell Knight was a paradox. A jazz obsessive and nature enthusiast (he is the author of the definitive work on how to look after a gorilla), he is seen today as one of MI5's greatest spymasters, a man who did more than any other to break up British fascism during the Second World War – in spite of having once belonged to the British Fascisti himself. He was known to his agents and colleagues simply as M, and was rumoured to be part of the inspiration for the character M in the James Bond series.

Knight became a legendary spymaster despite an almost total lack of qualifications. What set him apart from his peers was a mercurial ability to transform almost anyone into a fearless secret agent. He was the first in MI5 to grasp the potential of training female agents.

M is about more than just one man however. In its pages, Hemming reveals for the first time in print the names and stories of seven men and women recruited by Knight, on behalf of MI5, and then asked to infiltrate the most dangerous political organizations in Britain at that time. Until now, their identities have been kept secret outside MI5. Drawn from every walk of life, they led double lives—often at great personal cost—in order to protect the country they loved. With the publication of this book, it will be possible at last to celebrate the lives of these courageous, selfless individuals.

Drawing on declassified documents, private family archives and interviews with retired MI5 officers as well as the families of MI5 agents, M reveals not just the shadowy world of espionage but a brilliant, enigmatic man at its centre.

Matt Charman, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Stephen Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, and Mammoth Screen, producers of Poldark and Victoria, are producing a big budget TV series based on the book.

'Vividly imagined and prodigiously researched' Helen Davies, The Times, Books of the Year

'A rewarding read' John Preston, Daily Mail, Books of the Year

Maxwell Knight was a paradox. A jazz obsessive...


Advance Praise

“Crammed with cracking stories and founded on sound research…‘M’ – stands comparison with the bestselling books of Ben Macintyre.”  Adam Sisman (Author of John Le Carré)


“Absolute proof that assiduous digging in the archives can produce scoops. This is intelligence research at its best.”  Nigel West (Author of MI5)


"A fascinating portrait of a complex man. Espionage writing at its best." Charles Cummin (Author of A Divided Spy)

“Crammed with cracking stories and founded on sound research…‘M’ – stands comparison with the bestselling books of Ben Macintyre.”  Adam Sisman (Author of John Le Carré)


“Absolute proof that...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781848094673
PRICE £20.00 (GBP)
PAGES 416

Average rating from 8 members


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