Writer and journalist Antonia Senior interviews all the best writers on espionage. Each episode will bring you fascinating stories on spies, covert action and more - delving in to fact and fiction, past and present.
In this episode of the SpyMasters podcast, host Antonia Senior interviews thriller writer Mark Ellis, who discusses his journey into writing, the historical context of his novels set in wartime London, and the intricate plots involving crime and espionage. Ellis shares insights into his research methods, the importance of historical accuracy, and the character development of Frank Merlin, his protagonist. The conversation also touches on the portrayal of progressive views in a historical setting and concludes with Ellis recommending his favourite spy novels. keywords Mark Ellis, thriller writer, espionage, crime fiction, historical accuracy, wartime London, Frank Merlin, spy books, murder mystery, gangsters takeaways Mark Ellis transitioned to writing later in life. His novels are set in historically accurate wartime London. Ellis emphasizes the importance of storytelling over excessive detail. Crime rates surged during World War II in London. The character Frank Merlin reflects progressive views on race and sexuality. Ellis's research includes diaries and historical accounts. Espionage themes allow exploration of political issues in his books. Ellis enjoys reading and recommends various spy novels. He believes in creating complex plots with multiple subplots. The conversation highlights the rich backdrop of wartime London for crime fiction. But the book: https://amzn.eu/d/53eVGn7 Follow Mark Ellis: https://markellisauthor.com/; @markellis15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Antonia Senior talks to David Gardner, journalist and author about A Spy in the Family, the book he co-authored with fellow journalist Paul Henderson. BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.eu/d/5yzY71E keywords espionage, spy stories, Czech spy, betrayal, identity, resilience, historical narrative, true crime, family, Cold War summary An Incredible True Story of Espionage and Betrayal, A Spy in the Family, is the first book to reveal the full, astonishing story of ‘Václav Jelínek', aka Erwin van Haarlem, using previously unseen documents from the UK, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic A fascinating tale of how the authors helped Johanna, now 99, find out the truth about the man who pretended to be her son. It all starts in a courtroom, in 1989, when Johanna Von Haarlem confronted the man who had spent ten years pretending to be the son that she was brutally forced to give away during the war. Sound Bites "She was sent away to have the baby." "He was a trained spy after all." "He died a couple of years ago." Chapters 00:00 The Genesis of a Spy Story 06:45 Johanna's Heartbreaking Journey 12:55 The Spy's Double Life 16:29 The Reunion and Its Consequences 28:41 The Shocking Truth Revealed 31:14 The Search for the Real Irwin 36:51 ending.mp3 37:03 SPYMASTERS_THEME.wav Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summary: In this episode of The Spymasters Podcast, host Antonia Senior is joined by journalist and author Charlie English to discuss his latest book, The CIA Book Club. They dive into the incredible Cold War operation where the CIA secretly distributed banned books behind the Iron Curtain, undermining Soviet censorship and ideological control. Charlie shares gripping stories from his research, the broader impact of literature as a weapon, and how the written word shaped Cold War intelligence battles. Topics Covered: How the CIA used books to fight the Cold War The role of underground literature in Poland and beyond Soviet censorship and ideological control Real-life espionage stories behind intelligence operations The intersection of journalism, history, and spycraft Tags: #SpymastersPodcast #CIA #ColdWar #Espionage #CharlieEnglish #BannedBooks #IronCurtain #IntelligenceHistory #SpyBooks #SecretOperations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Simon Scarrow, the bestselling novelist, talks to Antonia Senior about his new novel A Death in Berlin. Set in Nazi Germany, this is the third in his series about detective Horst Schenke, an investigator with the Kripo unit. A man has been murdered, and Berlin is flooded with fake ration cards. How does Schenke deal with being a good man within a terrible regime? Simon and Antonia talk about living under the Nazis, about modern parallels and about the art of historical fiction. Buy the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/cQw2kAv Follow Simon: https://www.simonscarrow.co.uk/ More on the podcast: https://aspectsofhistory.com/spy-masters-podcasts/ on X we're @Spymasterspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Antonia Senior talks to Michael Smith, author of the Real Special Relationship, about the new world order and its impact on the US-UK intelligence alliance. Michael is a journalist and author of a number of books on spies and intelligence. He is a former member of the board of Bletchley Park. Antonia and Michael explore the dynamics of intelligence sharing between the UK and the US, witth historical context, trust issues, and the impact of political leadership on intelligence operations. They look at the future of intelligence cooperation amidst global challenges, particularly in the grey zone of warfare and the role of NATO in maintaining security. Buy Michael's book here: https://amzn.eu/d/5Aqm2eu Follow Michael here: https://www.michaelsmithauthor.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of the Spymasters podcast, Antonia Senior interviews bestselling novelist Joseph Finder about his latest thriller, 'The Oligarch's Daughter.' The conversation delves into the book's premise, character dynamics, and the intricate themes of wealth, trust, and the blurred lines between capitalism and intelligence in Russia. Finder shares insights into his writing process, the challenges of creating relatable characters in extraordinary situations, and the cultural nuances that inform his storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Writer and journalist Antonia Senior interviews bestselling author David McCloskey about his latest novel, 'The Seventh Floor.' The conversation delves into the intricacies of espionage, the brutal realities of interrogation, and the complex relationships between characters in the world of intelligence. McCloskey shares insights from his experience as a former CIA analyst, exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, and the moral dilemmas faced by those in the intelligence community. Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/36LWTuM David McCloskey, The Seventh Floor, CIA, espionage, spy novels, mole hunt, interrogation, character dynamics, Russian intelligence, friendship in espionage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of the Spymasters podcast, Antonia Senior interviews Anna Sharpe. about her new book, 'Notes on a Drowning.' Sharpe is a pseudonym for the award winning novelist Anna Mazzola. The conversation explores the book's themes of political intrigue, legal drama, and the murky world of espionage. Mazzola discusses her transition from historical fiction to contemporary writing, the influences behind her work, and the social commentary woven throughout her narrative. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced in the criminal justice system and the allure of espionage in literature, particularly in the context of modern spy craft. Buy the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/0kzWqeH Read more about Anna's legal work at the Centre for Women's Justice: https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join Oliver Webb-Carter as he talks to William Boyd, the best-selling novelist, about his new book Gabriel's Moon. Gabriel Dax is a young man in sixties London who becomes drawn into the murky world of espionage. William and Oliver talk about why literary writers are drawn to writing spy novels. They talk about James Bond, and Graham Greene and the art of writing. Buy the book here. Follow William Boyd here. Thank you for listening to Spymasters. Don't forget to give us a follow and tell your friends, so we can keep bringing you the best authors in the business talking about spies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The inaugural Books of the Year from the Spymasters Podcast. Join your host Antonia Senior as she talks to three special guests about their books of the year. Oliver Webb-Carter is the Editor of Aspects of History, and the host of our sister podcast, the Aspects of History podcast. https://aspectsofhistory.com/ Paul Burke is the host of the brilliant Crimetimefm podcast, and is writing an encyclopedia of spy fiction, due out in 2025. https://www.crimetime.co.uk/crimetime-fm-the-crime-fiction-interview-podcast/ Thomas Waugh is a writer of contemporary spy thrillers, including the Daniel Ambler series https://www.a's mazon.co.uk/stores/Thomas-Waugh/author/B001HPRLFY?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true The books we discuss on this chat include Ben Macintyre's The Siege Henry Hemming's Four Shots in the Night IS Berry's The Peacock and the Sparrow David McCloskey's Moscow X Tim Tate's To Catch a Spy Nigel West's Classified Henry Porter's The Enigma Girl Merle Negate's Honour Among Spies Mick Heron's The Secret Hours William Boyd's Gabriel's Moon Jane Thynne's Midnight in Vienna Alex Gerlis: Every Spy a Traitor The conversation covers a range of themes, including character-driven narratives, historical contexts, and the evolution of intelligence writing. Each guest presents their selections, providing insights into the authors' styles and the significance of their works in the genre. In this engaging conversation, the panel delvesinto the intricate world of espionage, exploring the ideological divides between American and Communist perspectives, the moral dilemmas faced by spies, and the complexities of British intelligence secrecy. The discussion also highlights the evolution of spy fiction, particularly in relation to real historical events, and examines modern trends in the genre, culminating in a review of notable spy books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael Smith, intelligence expert, talks to Oliver Webb-Carter, editor of Aspects of History, about Trump, Foreign Policy and Intelligence. Michael talks about how the re-election of Trump will effect the special relationship between British and American intelligence services. Oliver and Michael discuss the prospects for the Middle East, Ukraine and more, under the new Trump administration. Michael is is a British author who specializes in spies and espionage. He is also a former member of the board of the Bletchley Park Trust. Michael has written 16 books, and his most recent is The Real Special Relationship, The True Story of How the British and US Secret Services Work. Buy the book here Follow Michael here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kevin Riehle is the author of The Russian FSB, A Concise History of the Federal Security Service. Dr Riehle spent 30 years working for the US Government in various intelligence roles before switching to academia. The Russian FSB is the first English history book to trace the rise of Putin's Security Service. We talk about Putin, corruption and succession. What place does the FSB have in Russian society? How does it install fear? What continuity is there with its famed and feared predecessor, the KGB? Buy the book here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Antonia Senior talks to IS Berry about her debut novel The Peacock and the Sparrow. It has garnered rave reviews, and has won the Edgar Award for best first novel. It's set in Bahrain during the Arab Spring, and follows the misadventures of disillusioned CIA officer Shane Collins. IS Berry was in the CIA for six years, and she writes with thrilling authenticity about life as a spy. we talk about her leap from spy to writer, about her influenced, and the toll that espionage can take on the soul. Buy the book here Follow IS Berry: https://isberry.net/ Follow IS Berry on X: @isberryauthor Follow spymasters on X: @spymasterspod Follow Antonia: @tonisenior Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the Spymasters podcast, Antonia Senior talks to Alec Marsh, author of the Drabble and Harris series of historical thrillers. The talk ranges from Istanbul, to the peculiar atmosphere of the 1930s, espionage and beyond. Buy the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/eoCm7PZ Follow Alec Marsh: https://www.alecmarsh.co.uk/ on X: @alecmarsh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The SpyMasters podcasts interviews all the best writers about spying: fact and fiction, historical and contemporary. In this episode, Antonia Senior talks to the brilliant journalist, writer and documentary maker Tim Tate about the Spycatcher Affair. We talk about the culture of secrecy at MI5, about Thatcher's involvement, about Peter Wright, the molecatcher turned whistleblower. Buy the book here. Follow Tim here Find Spymasters on X @spymasterspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Antonia Senior talks to acclaimed novelist Jane Thynne about her new book Midnight in Vienna. Set in London and Vienna in 1938 it follows a young unemployed English tutor called Stella Fry and a disgraced MI5 watcher called Harry Fox, as they unite to investigate the murder of a celebrated detective novelist. We talk Nazis, the parallels between the 1930s and the present day, and, of course spies. Buy the book here. Follow Jane here. Follow Spymasters on X at @spymasterspod Follow Antonia Senior on X @tonisenior Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Antonia Senior interviews Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman about their fascinating new book Spycraft. What did it mean to be a spy in Early Modern England? What tips and tricks of the trade were employed against England's enemies? And who was the mysterious 'Q' of the Elizabethan spy trade? We talk secret ink, cyphers, and much more Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/jj62Dzm Follow the authors on x: @elegantfowl @Misswalsingham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Spymasters meets Merle Nygate, the author of Honour Among Spies. The second in Merle's books about Eli Amiram, Mossad's top spy runner, it was a Times thriller of the month. Eli is now chief of Mossad's London operation. He needs an audacious coup to cement his position. Merle and your host, Antonia Senior talk fiction, Mossad and the challenges to writing. Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/iZGaR5b Follow Merle: @MerleNygate https://merlenygate.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hugh Wilford joins SpyMasters to talk about his brilliant new book: The CIA, An Imperial History. Hugh is Professor of United States History at California State University, and a leading expert on the history of the CIA. His new book is a groundbreaking study of the history of the world's most famous intelligence agency. The book places the history of the CIA into a global context, in which the Cold War is a clash of empires. We talk about the founders of the CIA, the rise of covert action, and the Agency's unique role in American history. Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/0hpxkVpP Let us know what you think on X: @spymasterspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oliver Webb-Carter, the editor of Aspects of History, picks his top 5 books and his top 3 films about espionage. Some left-field options here from Oliver! Let us know what you think on X @spymasters We talk about the new SpyMasters anthology of top spy writing. And Ollie's picks: RISE and Kill First, Ronan Bergman. Buy. Operation Chiffon, Peter Taylor. Buy The Sympathiser, Viet Thanh Nguyen Buy Goldfinger, Ian Fleming. Buy One Day in September, Simon Reeve. Buy Films: Zero Days Living Daylights The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we talk to Roger Moorhouse, the acclaimed historian of Central and Eastern Europe. Roger's new book, The Forgers, is the fascinating story of how a group of Polish diplomats sought to save Jewish victims of the Holocaust by issuing false passports. Roger's book also covers the subject of espionage and the holocaust, and how the brave agents of Polish intelligence sought to bring news of the horrific genocide to the outside world. This is the fascinating subject of this week's episode. https://aspectsofhistory.com/spy-masters-podcasts/ Buy the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/01ZnlVLV Follow Roger on X: @Roger_Moorhouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Top Spy novelist Alex gerlis joins Antonia Senior to talk about his new book, Every Spy a Traitor. The first in a new series, it follows the adventures of two British men who end up working for the NVKD in the run up to WW2. We talk about the 1930s, the mindset of spies, and the perils of intricate, multi-book plots. Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/fJMM8dx More on Alex: https://alexgerlis.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Top spy novelist Thomas Waugh talks to Antonia Senior about his trilogy featuring the reluctant spy Daniel Ambler. We talk Putin, oligarchs, publishing and more..... Buy End Game here: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the second of an epic two-part series about the espionage wars between East and West, top intelligence historian Calder Walton talks Putin, disinformation and the decline of the Soviet Union. We talk about how Putin, the former KGB officer, turned his former service into a private mafia army. We turn to the threat from China, whose intelligence gathering operation against the West is on a scale never seen before. Buy Calder's book here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The first of two episodes with Dr Calder Walton. This one looks at the development of the intelligence war between the West and the Soviet Union from 1917, follows the story through the fulcrum period of the Second World War and pushes on into the intense espionage games of the Cold War. Based at Harvard's Kennedy Business School, Calder Walton is one of the world's leading experts on intelligence and national security. We talk about Marx, the Great Illegals and the Cambridge Five. We talk about a US administration which was riddled with spies. How did intelligence affect the Cold War? How crucial was Oleg Gordievsky? Next time, we will be talking about espionage, Russia and the West, beyond the Cold War. The conversation is an insight into Calder's brilliant, bestselling book. Just out in paperback, SPIES: The epic intelligence war between East and West, is a masterful and comprehensive look at the incredible story of Soviet and Western espionage. The West, Calder argues, has a long term Russia problem. Christopher Andrew called it 'a masterpiece'. Buy Calder's book: https://amzn.eu/d/08N5KXb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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What was it like to meet Anthony Blunt? How did the British Security Service try to stop Nigel West uncovering its secrets? And what qualities do you need to spend your career delving into the murky, shifting waters of intelligence? Join Antonia Senior as she quizzes Nigel West about a lifetime writing about intelligence, and his brilliant memoir: Classified!: The Adventures of a Molehunter. Buy the book here. https://aspectsofhistory.com/spy-masters-podcasts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How did August revolutionise Roman intelligence? How connected was Caesar? What intelligence failures dogged the Roman republic? All these questions answered and more by top novelist, Peter Tonkin. Buy the the Caesar's Spies' omnibus here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Was SJ Parris's protagonist, Giordano Bruno, really a spy? What was his relationship with top Elizabethan spymaster Francis Walsingham? To buy Alchemy, click here. For more on SJ Parris, the pseudonym of writer and journalist Stephanie Merritt, click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Former Director of the CIA, General David Petraeus, joins to talk about his book, Conflict, and the evolution of military intelligence. We talk about Iraq, Putin, Weapons of Mass destruction and AI. General Petraeus Links: Conflict: A Military History of the Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine. Spymaster links: SpyMasterPod on X: @spymasterspod Spymasters Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr Helen Fry, bestselling intelligence historian, joins us to talk about Edith Cavell, the famous World War One nurse and spy. Was she an intelligence agent for the British? What happened to Edith? We discuss the remarkable courage of a true heroine, and the wider story of women's role in intelligence. Dr Helen Fry's links: https://www.helen-fry.com/ Buy Women in Intelligence, here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Former CIA analyst turned bestselling writer David McCloskey joins to talk about his new novel. We talk about storytelling, the nature of modern espionage and how David made the leap from the CIA to novelist. David McCloskey Links Moscow X Damascus Station David on X Antonia Senior Links Antonia on X Email Antonia: spymasters@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The podcast on espionage that brings you in from the cold. Episode One released Feb 1st with ex CIA office and bestselling novelist David McCloskey, author of Damascus Station and Moscow X. SpyMasters is a new podcast from the team at Aspects of History. Every fortnight we will cover a story from the shadow lands of espionage. Fact and fiction, historical and contemporary, we will be talking to the best writers, established and emerging talents alike, about their books and worlds of spies and intelligence. Early episodes include Francis Walsingham's spying monk with S.J. Parris, the spy networks which uncovered the holocaust with Roger Moorhouse, and the incredible story of Edith Cavell, uncovered in the archives by acclaimed historian, Helen Fry. The new podcast is hosted by journalist, writer and Aspects of History board member, Antonia Senior. Antonia studied intelligence history under Christopher Andrew at Cambridge University, and hoped to get the tap on the shoulder. It never came. Instead, Antonia became an award-winning journalist and author of several novels. She is currently writing a book on the Cambridge Five spy ring, due for publication in 2025. Antonia can be found on X @Tonisenior We have no intention of keeping SpyMasters a closely guarded secret. Do please follow us on X @SpyMastersPod and spread the word. We will be grateful for any and all support. Should you be an author, with a relevant new or backlist title, interested in appearing on the podcast do get in touch at history@aspectsofhistory.com Please understand that we will not be able to oblige all requests. Thank you, and good night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices