Sidney Reilly Master Spy
Sidney Reilly Master Spy by Benny Morris, published by Yale University Press in January 2022, presents a revealing biography of one of the most colorful spies of the twentieth century. This edition spans 208 pages and is written in English. The book delves into the life of Sidney Reilly, who emerged from humble beginnings in southern Russia to become a prominent figure in espionage, working for Scotland Yard and later MI6. Morris’s research sheds light on Reilly’s multifaceted life, including his ventures in arms dealing during World War I and his attempts to influence political events in Russia.
Readers will find a detailed exploration of Reilly’s complex persona, including his multilingual skills and his relationships, which included multiple marriages and numerous affairs. The biography navigates through the blend of reality and myth surrounding Reilly, who was said to inspire Ian Fleming’s iconic James Bond character. Morris offers insights into Reilly’s espionage activities across Europe and his ultimate fate, providing a comprehensive look at the historical context of intelligence and espionage during this era. This work is particularly relevant for those interested in political science, intelligence, and the historical intricacies of espionage.
Official synopsis Publisher
A revealing biography of Sidney Reilly, the early twentieth-century virtuoso of espionage
“Mr. Morris’s dogged research . . . lends impressive rigor to this portrait of an often-cryptic figure.”–Diane Cole, Wall Street Journal
Sidney Reilly (c. 1873-1925) is one of the most colorful and best-known spies of the twentieth century. Emerging from humble beginnings in southern Russia, Reilly was an inventive multilingual businessman and conman who enjoyed espionage as a sideline. By the early twentieth century he was working as an agent for Scotland Yard, spying on émigré communities in Paris and London, with occasional sorties to Germany, Russia, and the Far East. He spent World War I in the United States, brokering major arms deals for tsarist Russia, and then decided to become a professional spy, joining the ranks of MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service. He came close to overthrowing the Bolshevik regime in Moscow before eventually being lured back to Russia and executed. Said to have been the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s iconic James Bond character, Reilly was simultaneously married to three or four women and had mistresses galore. Sifting through the reality and the myth of Reilly’s life, historian Benny Morris offers a fascinating portrait of one of the most intriguing figures from the golden age of spies.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Sidney Reilly Master Spy” about?
Who is the author of “Sidney Reilly Master Spy”?
When was “Sidney Reilly Master Spy” published?
What is the ISBN for “Sidney Reilly Master Spy”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
