Light and Shadow cover art

Light and Shadow

Memoirs of a Spy's Son

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Light and Shadow

By: Mark Colvin
Narrated by: Mark Colvin
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Mark Colvin is a broadcasting legend. He is the voice of ABC Radio’s leading current affairs program PM; he was a founding broadcaster for the groundbreaking youth station Double J; he initiated The World Today program; and he’s one of the most popular and influential journalists in the twittersphere.

Mark has been covering local and global events for more than four decades. He has reported on wars, royal weddings and everything in between. In the midst of all this he discovered that his father was an MI6 spy. Light and Shadow is the incredible story of a father waging a secret war against communism during the Cold War, while his son comes of age as a journalist during the tumultuous Whitlam and Fraser years and embarks on the risky career of a foreign correspondent.

Mark was witness to some of the most world-changing events, including the Iranian hostage crisis, the buildup to the first Gulf War in Iraq and the direct aftermath of the shocking genocide in Rwanda. But when he contracted a life-threatening illness while working in the field, his life changed forever. Mark Colvin’s engrossing memoir takes you inside the coverage of major news events and gently navigates the complexity of his father's double life.

©2016 Mark Colvin (P)2016 Audible, Ltd Art & Literature Journalists, Editors & Publishers Espionage Memoir Middle East Military War Heartfelt Cold War Thought-Provoking Africa Iran Imperialism Soviet Union Gulf War
All stars
Most relevant  
Wonderful book for anyone I'm Australia and aware (or unaware as I was) of its history in media and politics as well as the broader world.
Wonderfully read and put together.

Great read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved listening to Mark Colvin's story that revealed so much about the episodes that formed his quest to find out as much as he could about the way politics drives our world. He witnessed first hand so many political realities in countries that for most of us remain a mystery. He was able to tell the stories that he wished to reveal in a way that added the human touch and that brought a deeper understanding to any situation whether tragic, heroic or eccentric. He was a great man with a very solid conviction about inner integrity. I would like to thank Mark Colvin for sharing his life so generously both as a journalist and broadcaster and with the contents of this book.

Enlightening and heartfelt

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The late Mark Colvin's memoir, written not long before his death is both a heartfelt tribute to his father, a British MI6 officer. His love of family and his lifelong devotion to truthfull journalism stands out. I took this talking book, my first, to once more hear his words. He is much missed by listeners of the Australian ABC evening radio news commentary PM.

An intersting insight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A riveting account of his and his father's roller coaster lives, simultaneously providing a modern history lesson of world affairs over the past 50-60 tumultuous years. Written with unmatched intellect, wisdom and humility. Loved it.

Riveting and educational

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I'm so grateful he left us this book . His insights and back stories make much sense now .
The way he tells a story is just like following a path that twists and turns with intrigue .
The cruelty he suffered in the 'private boarding school ' was just so typical of the times .... I'm so glad that Dickensian style of education is not the norm today . But rather the exception ! Thankyou Mark Colvin you taught me well and I've passed it on .

Absolutely riveting ! I was always a dedicated fan

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A historically accurate account of recent events interspersed with interesting facts. A very enjoyable read, great to read when your on holidays.

A Great Book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Getting to hear Mark Colvin one more time is a pleasure. What an amazing life. Highly recommend if you like hearing about spies or history or are and RN listener.

Amazing listening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a wonderful book and listening to Mark Colvin read it himself is just wonderful. I enjoyed this so so much!

Fantastic!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Mark Colvin tells a great story of his life, his father and his family in remarkable clarity and detail across an extraordinary history. From the Cold War through to our current situation he's seen it and understood it and speaks to a lot of us about how great journalists can perceive and explain things to the rest of us.

Marvellous life of a great journalist

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Mark Colvin's voice was very familiar to me as a radio broadcaster. I first heard him as a JJ newsreader, but then not for many years until I started listening the ABC's 'PM' current affairs programme.
He was the perfect broadcast journalist: always inquisitive, balanced, easy to listen to.
So I was disappointed when he retired. And very sad to hear he'd died.
The stories he tells in this book of his own life, and that of his father, really rounded out my picture of this man who seemed so familiar. Thanks.

Fascinating insights in such a familiar voice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.