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Sidney Reilly

Master Spy
Series: Jewish Lives
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Sidney Reilly by Benny Morris is a fascinating biography that delves into the enigmatic life of one of the most renowned spies of the 20th century, Sidney Reilly. Often referred to as "The Ace of Spies", Reilly's adventures span multiple countries, involving deceit, espionage, and political intrigue, making his life a captivating subject of history and legend. The book explores his mysterious personality and the daring escapades that marked his career in a gripping narrative format.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by espionage and the life of legendary spies. It delves into the thrilling and mysterious world of a spy whose exploits have influenced fiction and history. Fans of historical intrigue and espionage will find this biography a captivating read.

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A revealing biography of Sidney Reilly, the early twentieth-century virtuoso of espionage

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A revealing biography of Sidney Reilly, the early twentieth-century virtuoso of espionage

Sidney Reilly (c. 1873–1925) is one of the most colourful and best-known spies of the twentieth century. Emerging from humble beginnings in southern Russia, Reilly was an inventive multilingual businessman and conman who enjoyed espionage as a sideline.

By the early twentieth century, he was working as an agent for Scotland Yard, spying on Γ©migrΓ© communities in Paris and London, with occasional sorties to Germany, Russia, and the Far East. He spent World War I in the United States, brokering major arms deals for Tsarist Russia, and then decided to become a professional spy, joining the ranks of MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service.

He came close to overthrowing the Bolshevik regime in Moscow before eventually being lured back to Russia and executed. Said to have been the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s iconic James Bond character, Reilly was simultaneously married to three or four women and had mistresses galore.

Sifting through the reality and myth of Reilly’s life, historian Benny Morris offers a fascinating portrait of one of the most intriguing figures from the golden age of spies.

Series: Jewish Lives

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Benny Morris's biography of Sidney Reilly is commended for its rigorous research into Reilly's espionage activities during crucial historical periods like World War I and the Russian Revolution. The book offers a captivating narrative of Reilly's life, portraying him as an enigmatic figure with a story that's even more intriguing than fictional spies. It is hailed as a comprehensive and definitive account of the famous British spy's multifaceted life and numerous identities.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300248265

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 10 January 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 1 b-w illus.

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 146.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 208

About the Author

Benny Morris is an Israeli historian, formerly professor of history in the Department of Middle East Studies at Ben-Gurion University. He is the author of a dozen books, including 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War and Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881–2001.

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