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 Funny Thought-Provoking Imperialism Socialism Village Solider

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All stars
Most relevant  
Accurately gets under the skin of a real anti-fascist intelligence drama, danger, commitment and family over 20 years.

Convincingly authentic and great read

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An interesting story and will be liked by all spy fans, however not his best.

Interesting story

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this is an amazing journey into the life and world of agent Sonya aka Ursula Burton...... for the first time I have been able to understand how the cold war espionage war began out of the ashes of ww2s intense spy games.........well written, and well narrated by the author......enjoy able and fascinating up till the very end.....

incredible........ what an amazing tale!

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Excellent book well read by the author - it provides a rich insight into geopolitics in the 1930s and 1940s as well an introduction to the Cold War

Highly recommended

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Macintyre brings forth another well researched and well told history of espionage and the world that not only tells a new story but intertwined with his previous works such as his account of Kim Philby.

Excellent

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An extraordinary true story of bravery, humanity and an unbending loyalty to a cause. Thoroughly researched and very well told.

A compelling listen

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Another brilliant book from Ben Macintyre. A fascinating story of a remarkable spy and some incompetent British spy catching! The book is excellently narrated by the author and I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in spies and history.

Superb

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So well written and spoken.
Very hard to take a break from listening.
Look forward to the next book by Ben.

Brilliant book,

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Non stop exciting and a clear insight into a full life in espionage. Well done - loved.

Loved this.

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I was told about this book by my neighbour and as it was set at times in Oxfordshire where I live I gave it a go.what a great read!
I really enjoyed the suspense and couldn't believe how she managed to stay out of the grasp of MI5 or the Germans/Americans who she managed to stay one step ahead at all times.well worth a read

agent sonya

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