Oct 15, 2015 female spies, agents, and undercover covert operatives depicted in fictional stories, books, tv series, and film. In the distant future, a sudden terrorist attack thrusts a human intelligence analyst into a maze of vicious alien gangsters, corrupt politicians and shadowy defense contractors and partners him with an elite operative of the militant krokator star empire, humanitys most prominent adversary to hunt down the ultraviolent faction known as the forbidden army before they can strike again. Spies, ciphers, and guerrillas, 19391945, by max hastings. In 1941, hall became the soes first female resident agent in france, complete with a fake name and forged papers as an american reporter with the. Books to read if you like wwii historical fiction, gripping historical fiction about the hardships endured during world war ii. Im fascinated by spy books, intelligence histories, cia memoirs, kgb confessionals. Readers who think historical fiction is blah or boring stop right there. Life and death in hitlers concentration camp for women by sarah helm. Five badass female spies who deserve their own world war. This riot recommendation listing your favorite stories about women in ww2 is sponsored by the huntress by kate quinn. This is a list of fictional secret agents and spies. Five great books about spies and the cia short stack. A new book is out that tells the story of french women who worked as spies for the british special operations executive soe, who were captured by.
The following is an incomplete list of notable spies during world war ii. From an actorturnedspy to an allfemale team of covert operatives, theyd hold their own alongside historys most famous world war ii spies. From the earliest british invasion literature which aroused spy paranoia. James bond may have had the gadgets but, according to a recent interview with a top female intelligence officer, women, in particular mothers, make bloody good spies. 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. The women spies of historical crime fiction crimereads. Both books are biased, newtons because he clearly hates philby, philbys because he, well, is philby. Both books are about the cambridge five, a small ring of soviet spies who worked in british intelligence from the beginnings of ww2 up through the early 60s when they were caught.
Gabrielle was a french nazi spy who reported information to french colony. The best historical fiction books about world war ii you. For far too long female spies in fiction were given the short shrift. The spies who armed the resistance, sabotaged the nazis, and helped win world war ii, a british captain who recruited three female soe agents, selwyn jepson. Some of the most harrowing stories are those of the female russian agents that served as a part of the seonkvd operations in france.
Readers will gain an understanding and an appreciation of the many risks these women undertook. With that in mind, here are six truly remarkable female spies from world war ii. World war iis female spies and their secrets the atlantic. So youve got your choice of biases in either direction. This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. The spies in the seven novels below have these qualities in spades. If you loved the tattooist of auschwitz, read the huntress. Liz carlyle and peggy kinsolving uncover a russian plot to undermine the.
Click below to subscribe to our weekly enewsletter to discover the hottest upcoming books that will drive your holds lists. Sarge steel is a detectivespy character published by charlton comics. It was one of our 20 most anticipated ww2 nonfiction books of 2017 and was certainly worth the wait. These fiction and nonfiction books reveal the invaluable work that female spies performed during world war ii. 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. Each chapter focuses on one woman and her exploits, which helped the allies defeat the axis powers. Every week, the thread tackles your book questions, big and small. See more ideas about female, tv series and actresses.
Soviet counterintelligence against the nazis, 19411945 by robert w. For them, adopting various aliases, sabotaging nazi plans, and infiltrating enemy headquarters is simply all in a days work. Derringdo, cloakanddagger, betrayal, violence and death have always made good entertainment. Click for more books about female spies in world war ii. Typecast as either a mata hari type seductress or a martyred edith cavell, they. Six women who engaged in spying from europe to asia are the subject of this fascinating historical book.
Carmelo borg pisani was a malteseborn artist and italian fascist who, on being discovered during an espionage mission. This is because they can multitask and have a better understanding of emotions. Readers cant get enough world war ii fiction, and authors. Ive arranged these books in alphabetical order by the authors last names within each of the three lists below the top 5, books about women in espionage, and other books about world war ii. World war iis most dangerous allied spy was a woman. Acts of espionage heightened during world war ii, and a special group of women excelled at that. Though it may be a popular genre, only a select few historical fiction books about world war ii truly capture the nuance and danger of that period of time in our worlds history. Set in france, this book gives the female perspective of wwii. Discover their real lives behind the censored case files, from mata hari. Readers cant get enough world war ii fiction, and authors are happy to keep the books coming. The book thief by markus zusak, rebecca by daphne du maurier, into the unknown by lorna peel, the thorn birds by colleen mcc.
But, as is often the case, truth can be far more exciting than fiction. Can anyone recommend some good nonfiction spy books. A new book is out that tells the story of french women who worked as spies for the british special operations executive soe, who were captured by the nazis in france and executed for their actions. Why stop with the fictional operative marion cotillard plays in allied. From the author of the new york times and usa today. Girl spies, resistance and nazis by anne rouyer, supervising librarian, mulberry street libraryfebruary 20, 20. Daphne park, britains most celebrated female spy, highlighting the clandestine workings of. The story focuses on two sisters who have been separated for years and have to do everything they can to survive. Packed with strong female characters, espionage, and intricate plots, these world war 2 books about women are worth a read. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries. In celebration of womens history month, we pulled together a wonderful sampling of spy novels written by women featuring female spies. Perhaps its because i grew up during the cold war, when a firm line was drawn between good guys and bad. The true story of the woman who became wwiis most highly decorated spy. Women secret agents and female spies completed some of the most daring and duplicitous missions in history, using everything in their power to gain information, and risking it all for a cause or causes they believed in.
Five badass female spies who deserve their own world war ii movie. The washington post already named one of marie claires best womens fiction books and one of bookbubs biggest books of the year. Munitions workers in the great war by angela woollacott. This list of books, set in nazi occupied europe, is filled with fast paced adventure, high stakes thrills, nail biting tension.
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