Agent Sonya cover art

Agent Sonya

Lover, Mother, Soldier, Spy

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Agent Sonya

By: Ben Macintyre
Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
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About this listen

The incredible story of the greatest female spy in history, from one of Britain's most acclaimed historians.

In the quiet Cotswolds village of Great Rollright in 1944, a thin and unusually elegant housewife emerged from her cottage to go on her usual bike ride. A devoted mother of three, attentive wife and friendly neighbour, Sonya Burton seemed to epitomise rural British domesticity.

However, rather than pedalling towards the shops with her ration book, Sonya was heading for the Oxfordshire countryside to gather scientific secrets from a nuclear physicist. Secrets that would enable the Soviet Union to build the atomic bomb.

Far from an obedient homemaker, Sonya Burton was a dedicated communist, a decorated colonel and a veteran spy who risked her life to keep the Soviet Union in the nuclear arms race. Her husband was also a Soviet agent, and her children had three different fathers from lovers she'd encountered throughout her incredible career.

In Agent Sonya, Ben Macintyre reveals the astonishing story behind the most important woman spy in history and the huge emotional cost that came with being a mother, a wife and a secret agent at once.

©2020 Ben MacIntyre (P)2020 Penguin Audio 20th Century Freedom & Security Military Modern Politics & Government Espionage Marriage Soviet Union War Imperialism Socialism Village Solider
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thoroughly enjoyed this excellent book. very well narrated. Amazing story and best of all it's true.

excellent book

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Great book. Read by the British author who very occasionally attempts a cringe American accent when quoting passages US source material but otherwise excellent

Story and narration good

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The detailed behind-the-scenes insight into the turbulent world of the early to mid 20th century was eye opening, even for a reader with considerable interest in world events both past and present. The rise and fall of communism in Europe involving not simply statistics, but real people with their lives at stake at every turn,

The world in flux

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Incredible story of real life 20th century espionage, we’ll read. A compelling listen, thoroughly recommended!

Amazing work of non fiction that you’d swear was fiction

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Better than fiction. Wonderfully constructed. Excellent narration. Totally captivating - kept me completely engaged from start to finish. Thank you.

Brilliant

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the life and times of agent Sonya are brilliantly portrayed by Ben. another Stirling production by Ben Macintyre

interesting detailed account !

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Nothing to dislike in this story. Like the way the author doesn’t apply any judgements.

A really good narration, with a really interesting story

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One gets the strong impression that Macintyre is very sympathetic towards Sonya and her motives despite her treachery. True Marxism is another form of blind religious fanaticism. Despite all that happened to Sonya and her friends and family at the hands of Stalin and the CCP she remained loyal to her ideals despite the harsh reality of her communist superiors. Any form of fanaticism is myopic , delusional and dangerous. MI5 and MI6 have a lot to answer for. Highly recommended. I can’t wait for another true spy thriller book from Macintyre!

Absolutely fascinating

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This is a monumental piece and Mr MacIntyre is superb as both author and narrator. I highly recommend this work.

Ben MacIntyre does it again

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A story of courage an folly - and also the tragedies of power and personal commitment. Well read, easy to listen to.

A fascinating life story

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