Ben Macintyre's World War II Espionage Files: Agent Zigzag/Operation Mincemeat

by Ben Macintyre

Ben Macintyre’s two bestselling accounts of World War II espionage are now available together exclusively as an ebook with an excerpt from the New York Times bestseller, Double Cross. A New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Agent Zigzag is the story of Eddie Chapman, a charmer, a criminal, a con man, and one of the most remarkable double agents in all of British history. Deemed “brilliant and almost absurdly entertaining” by Malcolm Gladwell, Operation Mincemeat unveils top secret material directly from the officers, spies, and masterminds of World War II. Each true tale is told through the vantage point of covert officials as they unravel webs of espionage and deception to yield Allied success. Macintyre’s are words that read, according to Entertainment Weekly, “like something by Ian Fleming.”

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, World War II, War, Military Fiction, Espionage

1025 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Ben Macintyre is a writer-at-large for The Times (U.K.) and the bestselling author of The Spy and the Traitor, A Spy Among Friends, Double Cross, Operation Mincemeat, Agent Zigzag, and Rogue Heroes, among other books. Macintyre has also written and presented BBC documentaries of his work.

Reviews

[Simon Armitage]

Rated 8/10 This is a two for the price of one novel and is aimed more at those with an interest in history and spying.
Operation Zigzag is about an English bloke with a criminal background who becomes a prisoner in German territory when they invaded and conquered a small English territory/Island. He offered to spy for them then flipped back to spy for England. So began a spying career for a number of years supplying valuable disinformation to the German hierarchy. An intriguing story not only in itself but the names of the folk working in the background running him and other similar and imaginary operatives supplying info to Germany. All in all a strange and clandestine time for a man with a criminal record fearing discovery by the constabulary in the UK (he was an escaped criminal) and keeping up a front to his German masters. Worth a read if you like that style of story remembering that it's pretty much all factual.
The second novel, Operation Mincemeat is also factual and was recently turned into a movie. Again its an interesting read insofar as not only was a body dropped with false information to mislead the Germans over invasion plans, but the degree of work and "artistic" flair that went into obtaining a body and providing the necessary information to make the whole thing seem feasible. Some interesting folk working in the backgrounds of English, Spanish and German government departments. Again worth the read as it gives a lot of info that I suspect may have been glossed over by a movie simply because there was so much involved.

[Sam]

Agent Zigzag tells the story of Eddie Chapman, a well known and established criminal from London's East End, who becomes one of Britain's most interesting and remarkable double agents by using those very talents that made him a successful criminal. Not only does Chapman convince the Germans to use him an agent before then convincing the MI5 that he is a willing and capable double agent, he manages to keep the charade up for the entirety of the War, spending time deep behind enemy lines and make friends in high places on both sides. While he isn't necessarily the most likeable of characters, you cannot fault his dedication to his missions and his loyalty to his family and friends (even if it is a little wandering!).

Operation Mincemeat tells of the far more complicated story of how varies arms of British intelligence come together to feed the Nazi command lies and disinformation in order to avert their attentions from the real targets for taking back Europe. In doing so, Glyndwr Michael, a Welsh migrant in London, becomes the pivotal player in a deception that is complicated and twisting and straight out of the minds of some of the greatest spy authors, literally. Sadly Glyndwr's involvement is not exactly voluntry and is not recognised until some time after the end of the war but given his role this is understandable and has now been fully recognised. This story is the basis for the movie 'The Man Who Never Was' and shows the ingenuity of the intelligence services and the importance of accurate information.

[Basirat Atif]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. However, I find some things a bit hard to believe but I guess deceiving the enemy maybe easier back then. I also find it weird how naive the Germans were (you will realize this once you read the book). But the author has researched his book well. I did find Eddy an interesting sort of person and I really wish that he should have been given a chance in the agency where he could have been disciplined and served the country better.

[Debbie Levis]

Technically I didn’t finish this book, which I very rarely do. Poorly written, convoluted details and too many unnecessary rabbit trails. I gave up!

[Stuart Haining]

Need a Second Copy! I bought this very large hardback for the Mincemeat story, so Zigzag was a bonus.

I actually preferred the Zigzag as a book,(10/10) its a very well told story and who knew the Brits were this devious and ingenious! I was amazed too to discover one of my favourite old films, Triple Cross with Cristopher Plumber, is loosely based around the story so must dig that out again too.

Mincemeat as a book was not quite as good, (8/10) but still an amazing read, which helps explain how the war was won by the Allies - I have no doubt the spymasters saved tens of thousands of lives.

[Steven Crowden]

I just don't know how the Germans could fall for this, but they did and we won!!!

[guillaume philippe choquet]

One of my favorite book from this author ,details and descriptions make you understand the period and situation one would found himself by accident.
spying game and always outsmarting each others.

[Joe D. Mayfield]

Great Book

Loved both books. Both well written and highly informative. Great look into World War Two dirty tricks and spy services.