Nine Lives: True Spy Stories from Mata Hari to Kim Philby

by Fitzroy Maclean, Richard Beeston (Introduction)

In Nine Lives , Fitzroy Maclean brilliantly tells the true stories of nine remarkable spies. Among them, there is the captivating Mata who was executed by firing squad for allegedly spying for Germany during World War I; Richard leader of the Tokyo Espionage Ring and the man who informed Stalin of the German attack on Russia in 1941 weeks before it happened; and Kim Philby--the *third man*--a prominent member of British Intelligence, a communist and a spy for the KGB. Brimming with drama and adventure, Nine Lives separates myth from reality and vividly brings alive the characters and events that surrounded these nine legendary spies.

Genres: History, Biography, Espionage, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Major General Fitzroy Hew Royle Maclean, Bt, KT, CBE.

Graduate of Eton and subsequently King's College, University of Cambridge. Joined the Diplomatic Service in 1932. Posted to Paris from 1933-1937 and then the British Embassy to Moscow from 1937-1941.

Veteran of WWII. In 1941, he chose to enlist as a private in the Cameron Highlanders, but was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant the same year. He was one of the earliest members of the elite SAS. By the end of the war, had risen to the rank of Brigadier. Maclean wrote several books, including Eastern Approaches, in which he recounted three extraordinary series of adventures: traveling, often incognito, in Soviet Central Asia; fighting in the Western Desert Campaign (1941-1943), where he specialized in commando raids (with the Special Air Service Regiment) behind enemy lines; and living rough with Josip Broz Tito and his Yugoslav Partisans. It has been widely speculated that Ian Fleming used Maclean as one of his inspirations for James Bond.

Unionist Party (Scotland) member of Parliament (MP) from 1941-1974.

Awarded a baronetcy, becoming 1st Baronet, Maclean of Strachur and Glensluain. Invested a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (KT). Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Recipient of the Croix de Guerre (France), the Order of Kutuzov (Soviet Union), the Order of the Partisan Star (Yugoslavia), and, posthumously, the Order of Prince Branimir (Croatia).

Reviews

[Alethea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to be honest and I didn't read it all from cover to cover, but read the first two chapters and dipped into another chapter. I picked this up, really wanting to be fascinated by exciting spy stories but the writing was a lot more detailed than I was really interested in. It went into too much detail and something I really hate, which this author did regularly, is put in a phrase in French and then not translate it.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of nine spies, from Mata Hari through Lonsdale, Philby and Penkovski (the author knew both Lonsdale and Philby). Made me want to pick up several of my dad's books on Philby and Penkovski to follow-up; Philby, in particular, is a most fascinating character.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eloquent and excellent read.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

good in parts .., but it felt as if the prolific author was running out of time, or energy and just wanted to get it written!