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  • MI6

  • Life and Death in the British Secret Service
  • By: Gordon Corera
  • Narrated by: Gordon Corera
  • Length: 15 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (184 ratings)
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MI6 cover art

MI6

By: Gordon Corera
Narrated by: Gordon Corera
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Summary

The secret history of MI6 - from the Cold War to the present day.

The British Secret Service has been cloaked in secrecy and shrouded in myth since it was created 100 years ago. Our understanding of what it is to be a spy has been largely defined by the fictional worlds of James Bond and John le Carre. MI6 provides a unique and unprecedented insight into this secret world and the reality that lies behind the fiction. It tells the story of how the secret service has changed since the end of World War II and by focusing on the people and the relationships that lie at the heart of espionage, revealing the danger, the drama, the intrigue, the moral ambiguities and the occasional comedy that comes with working for British intelligence. From the defining period of the early Cold War through to the modern day, MI6 has undergone a dramatic transformation from a gung-ho, amateurish organisation to its modern, no less controversial, incarnation. Gordon Corera reveals the triumphs and disasters along the way.

The grand dramas of the Cold War and after - the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the 11 September 2001 attacks and the Iraq war - are the backdrop for the human stories of the individual spies whose stories form the centrepiece of the narrative. But some of the individuals featured here, in turn, helped shape the course of those events. Corera draws on the first-hand accounts of those who have spied, lied and in some cases nearly died in service of the state. They range from the spymasters to the agents they ran to their sworn enemies. Many of these accounts are based on exclusive interviews and access. From Afghanistan to the Congo, from Moscow to the back streets of London, these are the voices of those who have worked on the front line of Britain's secret wars. And the truth is often more remarkable than the fiction.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Gordon Corera (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group

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What listeners say about MI6

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping

History told in such an enjoyable way. Factual and could relate to current affairs also. Highly recommend

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant and well read

This is a great overview of MI6 from its conception to the 2010s. Full of interesting insights and interviews with key individuals.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • GP
  • 28-03-23

Disappointing

Mostly rehashed well known stories. Sounds like it’s recorded in a wardrobe - probably a Covid era recording, but would benefit from using egg boxes on the walls and ceiling.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A very quick overview

This audiobook is a very general summary and doesn’t provides much new information that hasn’t been written about many, many times. However, his delivery and writing are good- sound improved when paired with a speaker.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

sounds like it was recorded in someone's bathroom

great book bad recording, good voice actor but the recording is quite echoey would enjoy more if the audio quality is better

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Terrible audio. If you get through the audio issue then it’s great content

First off - the audio in this is the worst I’ve ever heard. It’s like a very bad zoom call. However with careful placing of cushions you can get a dry-ish sound without all the reverb and enjoy it. The content is brilliant. I almost refunded this but I’m going to stick with it. Shame the audio is disgraceful cos the narration is pretty good. In my opinion audible should be giving every person who has purchased this a free credit due to the disgraceful audio.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Probably my favourite book.

This was such an interesting, insightful ride. I'm sure I'll listen to this multiple times.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good history.

I found the most interesting part was about the Iraq war. But the whole book is very good covering the most interesting parts of the history. Well narrated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Informative and detailed

It provides an interesting insight into the what drives both traitors and patriots. We’ll Narrated

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Last 2 hours are the best!!

Only take this on if you have a lot of spare time or a historian.

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1 person found this helpful