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The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War

Inspiration for the Major Motion Picture Official Secrets

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The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War

By: Marcia Mitchell, Thomas Mitchell
Narrated by: Harriet Dunlop
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About this listen

INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE OFFICIAL SECRETS

FEATURING A NEW INTRODUCTION

In January 2003, 28-year-old GCHQ translator Katharine Gun received an email from the US National Security Agency that would turn her world upside down. The message requested Katharine’s assistance in co-ordinating an illegal US-UK spy operation which would secure UN authorisation for the Iraq invasion. Horrified, she decided to leak the information to the British press.

Katharine’s decision would change her life forever, as she was arrested under the Official Secrets Act whilst becoming a cause célèbre for political activists. The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War is the definitive account of a whistleblower case that reads like a thriller, and will ask you the same question that was asked of Katharine that cold January day – where do your true loyalties lie?

©2019 Marcia Mitchell, Thomas Mitchell (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Espionage Freedom & Security Military Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government True Crime Women Middle East War Iran United Kingdom

Critic Reviews

"One of the crucial untold stories of the Iraq war is told with great passion and sensitivity by Marcia and Thomas Mitchell. It is fitting tribute to the courage of Katharine Gun, who blew the whistle on transatlantic dirty tricks at the highest levels of government in London and Washington. A morality tale for the 21st century." (Martin Bright, New Statesman Books of the Year)
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A true story can still be a good story. This reads like a very long article in a newspaper. It might be factual, but it’s not gripping, intriguing, nail biting or all that interesting. I’ve listened to exactly half the book but I’m bored and distracted. I haven’t seen the movie but I hear it’s good. This might be one of the rare occasions when the movie is better. Sorry

Meh

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