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LoveReading Says
Known simply as M, Maxwell Knight is seen today as one of MI5's greatest spymasters. He was the first in MI5 to grasp the potential of training female agents. This book reveals the names and stories of seven men and women recruited in MI5 by Knight, and then asked to infiltrate the most dangerous political organizations in Britain at that time. 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.
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M Maxwell Knight, MI5's Greatest Spymaster Synopsis
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. 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.
About This Edition
ISBN: |
9781848094673 |
Publication date: |
4th May 2017 |
Author: |
Henry Hemming |
Publisher: |
Preface Publishing an imprint of Cornerstone |
Format: |
Hardback |
Primary Genre |
Biographies & Autobiographies
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Other Genres: |
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Recommendations: |
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Press Reviews
Henry Hemming Press Reviews
I raced through Henry Hemming's book, constantly having to remind myself that it wasn't a work of fiction. It really has everything you'd want from a great espionage story: incredible agents risking their lives; the highest possible stakes, with the safety of the world hanging in the balance; and at its heart a complicated, mercurial spy master in Maxwell Knight spinning an ever more intricate web. -- Matt Charman, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of 'Bridge of Spies'
'Crammed with cracking stories and founded on sound research, Henry Hemming's biography of Maxwell Knight - 'M' - stands comparison with the bestselling books of Ben Macintyre.' -- Adam Sisman (Author of John Le Carre)
'Absolute proof that assiduous digging in the archives can produce scoops. This is intelligence research at its best, especially in the identification of hitherto anonymous agents. Definitely a great contribution to the literature.' -- Nigel West (Author of MI5)
'A fascinating portrait of a complex man. Espionage writing at its best.' -- Charles Cumming (Author of A Divided Spy)
Author
About Henry Hemming
Henry Hemming is the author of four previous books, including Misadventure in the Middle East which was shortlisted for the Dolman Travel Book Award. He has written for publications including The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Financial Times, Washington Post and The Economist. He lives in London with his wife and daughter.
More About Henry Hemming