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Spymistress

The True Story of the Greatest Female Secret Agent of World War II

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About this listen

A rousing tale of espionage and unsung valor, this is the captivating true story of Vera Atkins, Great Britain's spymistress from the age of 25. With her fierce intelligence, blunt manner, personal courage, and exceptional informants, Vera ran countless missions throughout the 1930s. After rising to the leadership echelon in the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a covert intelligence agency formed by Winston Churchill, she became head of a clandestine army in World War II. Her team went deep behind enemy lines, linked up with resistance fighters, destroyed vital targets, helped Allied pilots escape capture, assassinated German soldiers, and radioed information back to London. As the biographer of her mentor in the SOE, William Stevenson was the only person Vera Atkins trusted to record her story.

©2007, 2011 William Stevenson (P)2014 Audible, Inc. 20th Century Americas Espionage Historical Military Military & War Modern Politicians Politics & Activism True Crime United States Women World War II War Royalty Imperialism Winston Churchill Middle Ages Submarine Biography Holocaust Franklin D Roosevelt Interwar Period
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A well written account of the hidden and secret life of a spy mistress. Fascinating account, and a joy to listen to.

Very interesting and highly recommended

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The historic account of Vera Atkins is fascinating and should be interesting but seriously let down by the monotone and poor narration. The narrator makes the story very tedious and difficult to listen to for long and I'm losing interest in what is an intriguing account of an amazing woman. I'm half way through and will quit the story and simply buy the book. very disappointed and could have saved myself the credit and time by simply buying the book in the first place.. Book recommended but the narration most definitely not.

Fascinating story let down by awful narration

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Vera Atkins was an inspirational woman and this is her story. I don't quite agree with the title and I'm not sure that Vera would have either. Vera was the one who sent her girls into the field and she grieved for every single one of them that did not return.

A remarkable lady

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This book recognised the outstanding work of a woman we can be truly grateful so fought for justice and helped secure the victory of an unseen unheard of group who help in the war at great personal sacrifice.

Not just a woman

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Really interesting overview of the politics from the 30’s through to the end of the war. And the impact Vera Atkinson had on SOE formation and ongoing operations, along with a number of other amazing brave women and men.

Excellent overview of SOE

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