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The Irregulars

Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington

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The Irregulars

Written by: Jennet Conant
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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About this listen

 Prior to the U.S. entering WWII, a small coterie of British spies in Washington, D.C., was formed. They called themselves the Baker Street Irregulars after the band of street urchins who were the eyes and ears of Sherlock Holmes in some Arthur Conan Doyle stories. This group constituted the very beginning of what would become M16, the British version of the CIA, and they helped support the fledgling American intelligence service, known at the time as the OSS.

Among them were writers Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming, and the flamboyant Canadian industrialist turned professional saboteur William Stephenson, known by the code name "Intrepid", upon whom Fleming would later base his fictional M16 agent James Bond. Richly detailed and carefully researched, Conant's narrative uses never-before-seen wartime letters, diaries and interviews to create a fascinating, lively account of deceit, double dealing and moral ambiguity - all in the name of victory.

©2008 Jennet Conant (P)2008 HighBridge Company. Great Britain United States Wars & Conflicts World Espionage Military War England Franklin D Roosevelt Imperialism Submarine Air Force
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What the critics say

"A thoroughly engrossing story, one Conant tells exceptionally well." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Reads like a classic spy novel....With this excellent history of personalities and politics during World War II, Conant adds successfully to her previous books that have made vivid the war's background players. Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)
"Simon Prebble, fastidiously pukka in his accent, has a fine 'top-secret' voice, shaded with condescension and understatedly urgent. Coming from him, the expression 'rumor mill' sounds especially insidious, and the deeds he describes - 'eavesdropping and peering over people's shoulders,' forgery, political subversion and general backstabbing - seem wonderfully dastardly." ( Washington Post Book World)

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Profile Image for Roberta W

Really enjoyed this

This was a slightly different look at espionage and the big spies of their days, from how they met together in Washington DC, then either collaborated or simply kept in touch. It looks at their lives after the adrenaline rush of spying was over, how they moved on with their lives, or tried to, some writing, some with other ventures. And, of course, their relationships. I liked how it took a broader look, beyond capers. I am looking forward to reading about Intrepid again, and a bit of Ian Fleming. I shall appreciate these anew!

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