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Catesby #5
A Very British Ending
An MI6 officer, haunted by the ghosts of an SS atrocity, kills a Nazi war criminal in the ruins of a U-boat bunker. The German turns out to be a CIA asset being rat-lined to South America.
As a hungry Britain freezes in the winter of 1947, a young cabinet minister negotiates a deal with Moscow trading Rolls-Royce jet engines for cattle fodder and wood. Both have made powerful enemies with long memories. The fates of the two men become entwined as one rises through MI6 and the other to Downing Street. It is the mid-1970s and a coup d’état is imminent.
'A Very British Ending' is the Wolf Hall of power games in modern Britain. Senior MI6 officers, Catesby and Bone, try to outwit a cabal of plotters trying to overthrow the Prime Minister. The author once again reveals the dark underside of the Secret State on both sides of the Atlantic.
As a hungry Britain freezes in the winter of 1947, a young cabinet minister negotiates a deal with Moscow trading Rolls-Royce jet engines for cattle fodder and wood. Both have made powerful enemies with long memories. The fates of the two men become entwined as one rises through MI6 and the other to Downing Street. It is the mid-1970s and a coup d’état is imminent.
'A Very British Ending' is the Wolf Hall of power games in modern Britain. Senior MI6 officers, Catesby and Bone, try to outwit a cabal of plotters trying to overthrow the Prime Minister. The author once again reveals the dark underside of the Secret State on both sides of the Atlantic.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2015
70 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Edward Wilson
121 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Edward Wilson served in Vietnam as an officer in the 5th Special Forces. His decorations include the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for Valor. Soon after leaving the army, Wilson became a permanent expatriate in the UK in 1974. He formally lost US nationality in 1986. Edward Wilson is a British citizen, but has also lived and worked in Germany and France.
Edward Wilson served in Vietnam as an officer in the 5th Special Forces. His decorations include the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for Valor. Soon after leaving the army, Wilson became a permanent expatriate in the UK in 1974. He formally lost US nationality in 1986. Edward Wilson is a British citizen, but has also lived and worked in Germany and France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 6, 2015
This is one of the BEST espionage novels I've read in quite some time. From start to finish - roughly spanning the years 1947 to 1995 - it captured my interest and held me in its grip.
William Catesby - a polyglot and university graduate with liberal leanings, his mentor at MI 6 (the Secret Intelligence Service - SIS) Henry Bone, Harold Wilson (a real historical figure who would later play a prominent role in British politics during the 1960s and 1970s), James Jesus Angleton (another real historical figure and the CIA's counter-intelligence chief utterly sure of the rightness of 'The Cause' as defined by the U.S. government and possessed of a massive paranoia that would have consequences for him and the CIA itself) and a number of other lesser, though no less intriguing, characters give "A VERY BRITISH ENDING" its thrust, excitement, and provide an insight into significant historical events of the Cold War Era that may make the reader question his/her own understanding of those events.
Catesby epitomizes the classic British civil servant who, having emerged from combat service in the Second World War, served the Crown and Country unselfishly as an intelligence officer in a peacetime world whose hazards could arise in the most unexpected places. And often did. In the process, he paid a heavy cost as the following passage will attest:
"Catesby was relieved when the door of Number 10 closed firmly behind him. He was glad to be outside - in the cool damp air and away from the funereal tones. In contrast to the gloom inside Downing Street, the street outside was party time, packed and pulsating with people. There were television vans all over the place and what seemed a hundred people snapping pictures or talking into microphones. A reporter lurched up to Catesby and put a microphone in his face. 'Can you tell us the latest, please?'
"Catesby waved the reporter away and turned to the policeman guarding the front door, 'What's happened?'
" 'The Prime Minister, sir, has just resigned.'
"Catesby understood why the meeting had been suspended. Compared to a prime minister, he was too small a prize to pluck and gut. They had got what they wanted - at least, for the moment."
A VERY BRITISH ENDING is a book I could return to again and again. It's that GOOD.
William Catesby - a polyglot and university graduate with liberal leanings, his mentor at MI 6 (the Secret Intelligence Service - SIS) Henry Bone, Harold Wilson (a real historical figure who would later play a prominent role in British politics during the 1960s and 1970s), James Jesus Angleton (another real historical figure and the CIA's counter-intelligence chief utterly sure of the rightness of 'The Cause' as defined by the U.S. government and possessed of a massive paranoia that would have consequences for him and the CIA itself) and a number of other lesser, though no less intriguing, characters give "A VERY BRITISH ENDING" its thrust, excitement, and provide an insight into significant historical events of the Cold War Era that may make the reader question his/her own understanding of those events.
Catesby epitomizes the classic British civil servant who, having emerged from combat service in the Second World War, served the Crown and Country unselfishly as an intelligence officer in a peacetime world whose hazards could arise in the most unexpected places. And often did. In the process, he paid a heavy cost as the following passage will attest:
"Catesby was relieved when the door of Number 10 closed firmly behind him. He was glad to be outside - in the cool damp air and away from the funereal tones. In contrast to the gloom inside Downing Street, the street outside was party time, packed and pulsating with people. There were television vans all over the place and what seemed a hundred people snapping pictures or talking into microphones. A reporter lurched up to Catesby and put a microphone in his face. 'Can you tell us the latest, please?'
"Catesby waved the reporter away and turned to the policeman guarding the front door, 'What's happened?'
" 'The Prime Minister, sir, has just resigned.'
"Catesby understood why the meeting had been suspended. Compared to a prime minister, he was too small a prize to pluck and gut. They had got what they wanted - at least, for the moment."
A VERY BRITISH ENDING is a book I could return to again and again. It's that GOOD.
January 31, 2022
In his latest book, Edward Wilson continues the story of William Catesby, the British spy with a conscience, and the machinations of spies in Britain, the USA and the Soviet Union. In the opening pages, MI6 officer Catesby commits a murder which will return to haunt him. (MI6 is also known as the Secret Intelligence Service or SIS for short). As the story unfolds, it circles round the Cambridge Spies who included Guy Burgess & Donald Maclean, Kim Philby and Anthony Blunt. The latter was an art historian who became Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures, and was responsible for the care and maintenance of the royal collection of pictures owned by the Sovereign in an official capacity. In this story, Blunt is a close friend of Catesby's boss and mentor, Henry Bone. In the USA, the paranoid James Jesus Angleton - who was chief of the Central Intelligence Agency's Counterintelligence Staff for almost 20 years - sees Reds under every bed throughout the "Free World", but especially in Great Britain (The fact that Angleton was a friend of Kim Philby during the latter's time in the USA and was completely fooled by that particular Soviet agent, goes some way to explain his hatred of the British Left). Angleton helps out a secret cabal of British military, disaffected MI5 agents (MI5 and MI6 are portrayed as bitter rivals) and at least one newspaper owner, to smear left wing politicians, including Harold Wilson, who became Prime Minister of Britain from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976, winning 4 general elections in the process. Conservative Prime Minister Ted Heath - who served between Wilson's 2 terms as Prime Minister - is also the subject of a smear campaign orchestrated by MI5 agents. Wilson was indeed the subject of many claims he was a Soviet agent and bids to destabilise Britain were made when he was in power. Catesby & Bone see all this happening and take steps to prevent the worst excesses of the military and right wing MI5 agents both in mainland Britain and in Northern Ireland. Although much of this had previously been dismissed as Harold Wilson's unfounded conspiracy theories, it is a fact that, in 2010, British newspaper reports made detailed allegations that the bugging of 10 Downing Street (official home of British prime ministers) during Harold Wilson's time in office had taken place but had been omitted from the official history of MI5 for "wider public interest reasons". No denial of these allegations has ever been made by a British Government. In "A Very British Ending", Edward Wilson points out that, sometimes, a novelist - when confronted by "[t]he Secret State and the machinations of power" - is in a position to "make better sense of things than a historian". Senior MI6 officers, Catesby & Bone, risk their careers - and possibly their lives - in another wonderful spy thriller which effortlessly mixes real and supposed events of British history in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Another great read from Edward Wilson.
October 22, 2020
Weaving historical fact with fiction, Edward Wilson has written a set of thrillers in the Catesby Series that (IMHO) surpasses anything Le Carré has ever written.
January 23, 2020
Pretty good read about the cold war, the damage of conspiracy theories, smear campaigns, and the fear and paranoia that can infect an intelligence organization and a govt. office.
September 14, 2024
I didn’t know it when I picked up the book, but the very first blurb inside quotes the Tribune saying that that the author is “the left’s answer to Frederick Forsyth”. I suppose you could say that is true, if you meant that left’s answers are unappealing, hypocritical, treacherous, destructive and banally evil. Otherwise, it is as bad as Forsyth's books are good.
I read over 120 pages before abandoning it. The leftism and anti-Americanism kept getting worse and worse. The author, an American who renounced his citizenship in 1983, is outraged at Americans pursuing their own interests and Brits who are sympathetic to them, yet he excuses the treason of the Cambridge spies in favor of the Soviet Union. He is a big trade union and Labour Party supporter, but not any Labour politicians will do, they have to be the most extreme of Labour’s leftists. Politics aside, the book was befuddling and boring. I am definitely never reading anything more by this author and recommend that others do likewise.
I read over 120 pages before abandoning it. The leftism and anti-Americanism kept getting worse and worse. The author, an American who renounced his citizenship in 1983, is outraged at Americans pursuing their own interests and Brits who are sympathetic to them, yet he excuses the treason of the Cambridge spies in favor of the Soviet Union. He is a big trade union and Labour Party supporter, but not any Labour politicians will do, they have to be the most extreme of Labour’s leftists. Politics aside, the book was befuddling and boring. I am definitely never reading anything more by this author and recommend that others do likewise.
July 10, 2019
Really enjoyed this. Edward Wilson obviously has a comprehensive understanding of 20th century history: World War 2, the Popular Unity government and Pinochet's coup in Chile, the overthrow of the Whitlam government in Australia, the Cold War, the CIA's involvement in moving Nazi officers to safety in South America, and British parliamentary politics all receive extensive coverage.
The author's historical knowledge is combined with impressive storytelling skill to describe a fictional coup attempt against Harold Wilson's Labour government. Although the story is fictional, it contains a kernel of truth in terms of US concerns about Wilson being a secret commie, and the fury of much of British capital at having a moderately progressive government. With a Jeremy Corbyn-led left Labour government - far more radical than that of Harold Wilson - potentially around the corner, 'A Very British Ending' paints an all-too-realistic picture of how the US and the British deep state will react.
An exciting and interesting read.
The author's historical knowledge is combined with impressive storytelling skill to describe a fictional coup attempt against Harold Wilson's Labour government. Although the story is fictional, it contains a kernel of truth in terms of US concerns about Wilson being a secret commie, and the fury of much of British capital at having a moderately progressive government. With a Jeremy Corbyn-led left Labour government - far more radical than that of Harold Wilson - potentially around the corner, 'A Very British Ending' paints an all-too-realistic picture of how the US and the British deep state will react.
An exciting and interesting read.
August 24, 2019
Interesting spy thriller running through 45 plus years of British history through the jaundiced eye of a British spy. I suspect ones enjoyment of each of the conspiracy theories will be directly linked to ones political views.
April 6, 2017
Edward Wilson’s tale of collaboration and treachery among the British, American, and Russian intelligence services spans a series of five novels. A Very British Ending is, fittingly, the fifth. Though a large cast of characters comes into play in the series, including many prominent historical figures, just three men hold starring roles: the CIA’s Kit Fournier, and William Catesby and Henry Bone of MI6.
British intelligence under scrutiny
Edward Wilson is an American transplant who has lived in England since he served in the Vietnam War as a Special Forces officer. Clearly, he was unhappy with American policy there. He does not paint a pretty picture of the CIA. His novels reveal an equally jaundiced opinion of British intelligence. The parade of familiar English turncoats appears again and again in the stories he writes. Double-dealing and treachery are standard fare in these stories. The series also brings into high relief the tension between Catesby, who grew up poor, and his boss, Henry Bone, whose distinguished family reaches centuries into the past. Class conflict is another staple in Wilson’s work.
A journey through the post-war years
A Very British Ending spans the years from the war through 1976. Much of the action takes place in the early 1950s, when the extent of Soviet penetration of British intelligence was beginning to surface. Famous English, American, and German characters enter into the tale as well: Prime Ministers Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, and Margaret Thatcher, CIA Director Allen Dulles, and SS General Reinhard Gehlen as well as the spies known as the Cambridge Five.
The book shifts rapidly through the years, in no apparent order. Though the plot is complex, the story centers on the relationship between Catesby and Bone — and follows them through to the end of their careers. A Very British Ending is a satisfying tale of espionage reminiscent of the early works of John le Carre.
British intelligence under scrutiny
Edward Wilson is an American transplant who has lived in England since he served in the Vietnam War as a Special Forces officer. Clearly, he was unhappy with American policy there. He does not paint a pretty picture of the CIA. His novels reveal an equally jaundiced opinion of British intelligence. The parade of familiar English turncoats appears again and again in the stories he writes. Double-dealing and treachery are standard fare in these stories. The series also brings into high relief the tension between Catesby, who grew up poor, and his boss, Henry Bone, whose distinguished family reaches centuries into the past. Class conflict is another staple in Wilson’s work.
A journey through the post-war years
A Very British Ending spans the years from the war through 1976. Much of the action takes place in the early 1950s, when the extent of Soviet penetration of British intelligence was beginning to surface. Famous English, American, and German characters enter into the tale as well: Prime Ministers Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, and Margaret Thatcher, CIA Director Allen Dulles, and SS General Reinhard Gehlen as well as the spies known as the Cambridge Five.
The book shifts rapidly through the years, in no apparent order. Though the plot is complex, the story centers on the relationship between Catesby and Bone — and follows them through to the end of their careers. A Very British Ending is a satisfying tale of espionage reminiscent of the early works of John le Carre.
January 5, 2022
Very, very readable - I hardly put it down before finishing it. Like all the Catesby series it interweaves fact and fiction, using real characters, in this instance Harold Wilson particularly, as the centrepiece around which William Catesby, Henry Bone and others move. The story moves from the immediate post war period to the rise of Thatcher and deals largely with the interference of the CIA in British affairs, and the underlying threat to British democracy of the far right. It is written in such a way that it is all too believable, especially to those of us to the left of centre. As such it is frightening.
November 20, 2020
Edward Wilson's espionage novel is a hybrid of fact and fiction, story telling and political polemic.
The book is ambitious, but execution falls short.
The characters are sharply divided between the good (those who share the author's Corbynista opinions) and bad (Americans and the British upper classes). The latter are almost comically wicked and unhinged. And depicted in a way that lapses into caricature.
Linking the plot to real-time events gives the novel its tight narrative structure. But the author gets it wrong when linking the purchase of the Polaris defence system, with The Beatles topping of the American charts. These events didn't coincide.
Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson receives a fictional makeover and emerges as a benign, forthright, principled character. Which might come as a shock to those who knew and worked with him!
Throughout the book, The United States is the main threat to world peace, as secret agent William Catesby battles to preserve the UK's democratic system. Russian invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia don't rate a mention. Nor do the many transgressions of the Chinese Communist Party.
So it's a selective and skewed view of history, that unbalances this novel. Proving a point (over and over again) puts a strain on the fiction and the reader's patience. In the end, the book fails to deliver on the visceral suspense that's a vital part of the spy genre.
The book is ambitious, but execution falls short.
The characters are sharply divided between the good (those who share the author's Corbynista opinions) and bad (Americans and the British upper classes). The latter are almost comically wicked and unhinged. And depicted in a way that lapses into caricature.
Linking the plot to real-time events gives the novel its tight narrative structure. But the author gets it wrong when linking the purchase of the Polaris defence system, with The Beatles topping of the American charts. These events didn't coincide.
Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson receives a fictional makeover and emerges as a benign, forthright, principled character. Which might come as a shock to those who knew and worked with him!
Throughout the book, The United States is the main threat to world peace, as secret agent William Catesby battles to preserve the UK's democratic system. Russian invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia don't rate a mention. Nor do the many transgressions of the Chinese Communist Party.
So it's a selective and skewed view of history, that unbalances this novel. Proving a point (over and over again) puts a strain on the fiction and the reader's patience. In the end, the book fails to deliver on the visceral suspense that's a vital part of the spy genre.
January 13, 2017
A very good read, easier to read than some spy thrillers. Based on British PM Harold Wilson actions that upset the Americans with sales of Rolls Royce jet engines to the Russians, for which they labeled him a communist supporter through his political career.
Catsby, the primary actor in this thriller tries to help Wilson with advice and insights which we are led through the gathering of. Many different characters come and go, primarily from the American, Russian and British camps but many others become involved at times, providing their bits of insights that need to be assessed as truth or lie or somewhat in between.
All through this novel we are kept informed of world events and how they apply to the course of affairs in the British parliament, and especially Harold Wilson as he moves up to PM. Mr. Wilson, against wishes of the U.S. would not support the War in Vietnam, further upsetting that camp.
I very much enjoyed this book, which ends with the death of Wilson, I am not really sure how that relates to the title, something that has puzzled me for a couple of days.
Catsby, the primary actor in this thriller tries to help Wilson with advice and insights which we are led through the gathering of. Many different characters come and go, primarily from the American, Russian and British camps but many others become involved at times, providing their bits of insights that need to be assessed as truth or lie or somewhat in between.
All through this novel we are kept informed of world events and how they apply to the course of affairs in the British parliament, and especially Harold Wilson as he moves up to PM. Mr. Wilson, against wishes of the U.S. would not support the War in Vietnam, further upsetting that camp.
I very much enjoyed this book, which ends with the death of Wilson, I am not really sure how that relates to the title, something that has puzzled me for a couple of days.
February 1, 2023
Another fantastic entry from Edward Wilson featuring William Catesby, his agent from MI6.
This time the action takes place mostly at home, meaning the UK, as we see Catesby deal with the changing post-war world. Germany is no longer the enemy, we have the USSR to worry about, and old wounds from the war are quickly forgotten as the new enemy takes center stage. Along with a new enemy comes a bigger, stronger friend - the US with their CIA, determined to fight the Soviets at every turn. Whoever isn't with the US must obviously be a Soviet spy, and with the English already being exposed by Philby and his crowd the CIA needs to play hardball.
Catesby and his mentor Henry Bone don't necessarily like the fact that the US is bullying their way into British politics, fearful that they're falling under another type of occupation. Mr. Wilson uses the real life story of Harold Wilson as the crux of Catesby's fight for what he believes is right.
A strong intelligent story spanning decades, more relevant today than ever. A wonderful read.
This time the action takes place mostly at home, meaning the UK, as we see Catesby deal with the changing post-war world. Germany is no longer the enemy, we have the USSR to worry about, and old wounds from the war are quickly forgotten as the new enemy takes center stage. Along with a new enemy comes a bigger, stronger friend - the US with their CIA, determined to fight the Soviets at every turn. Whoever isn't with the US must obviously be a Soviet spy, and with the English already being exposed by Philby and his crowd the CIA needs to play hardball.
Catesby and his mentor Henry Bone don't necessarily like the fact that the US is bullying their way into British politics, fearful that they're falling under another type of occupation. Mr. Wilson uses the real life story of Harold Wilson as the crux of Catesby's fight for what he believes is right.
A strong intelligent story spanning decades, more relevant today than ever. A wonderful read.
February 11, 2021
"Treason usually, but not always, comes from the right wing. It happened in Italy in 1922. We saw the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923; it happened in Lisbon in 1926; in Spain in 1936."
It's by no means a farce, but it is Wilson's most droll novel, and there's more than a little Nick and Nora about Catesby and estranged (sort of) wife. Dulles of CIA comes off as a shrewd buffoon --" interesting hybrid. The Brits are coming in the early 1950s to the conclusion that they lost the war--to the U.S. A genial, intriguing post-war spy book, with alliances fraying.
In the 1960s PM Harold Wilson, though neither a socialist nor a communist, worries the CIA and British right-wingers because he wants to spend less on the military and more on British citizens. A plot emerges to topple him, and our protagonist Catesby must do something about it. A working class immigrant whose gift for languages got him to and through Oxford, Catesby liked Wilson because he's provincial, smart, and practical. The Queen happens to like him too.
"We are an odd lot, thought Catesby. What other country could have produced Magna Carta, the Industrial Revolution, Das Kapital, and the Beatles?"
It's by no means a farce, but it is Wilson's most droll novel, and there's more than a little Nick and Nora about Catesby and estranged (sort of) wife. Dulles of CIA comes off as a shrewd buffoon --" interesting hybrid. The Brits are coming in the early 1950s to the conclusion that they lost the war--to the U.S. A genial, intriguing post-war spy book, with alliances fraying.
In the 1960s PM Harold Wilson, though neither a socialist nor a communist, worries the CIA and British right-wingers because he wants to spend less on the military and more on British citizens. A plot emerges to topple him, and our protagonist Catesby must do something about it. A working class immigrant whose gift for languages got him to and through Oxford, Catesby liked Wilson because he's provincial, smart, and practical. The Queen happens to like him too.
"We are an odd lot, thought Catesby. What other country could have produced Magna Carta, the Industrial Revolution, Das Kapital, and the Beatles?"
February 9, 2019
A disturbing, absorbing read.
How much is fact based and how much is just fiction and supposition is always going to be debatable and ultimately, probably unknowable; what is not in doubt is the quality of the writing. Once again Edward Wilson has written another absorbing glimpse into the secret state of post war Britain.
Having lived through the period and remembering the events, it's fascinating to wondered "did it or didn't" happen as the author portrays it.
An awful of lot rings true, but I think the way Mr Wilson wears his heart on his sleeve and the almost caricature way in which his plotters are portrayed, just stopped me giving it a 5 star rating.
How much is fact based and how much is just fiction and supposition is always going to be debatable and ultimately, probably unknowable; what is not in doubt is the quality of the writing. Once again Edward Wilson has written another absorbing glimpse into the secret state of post war Britain.
Having lived through the period and remembering the events, it's fascinating to wondered "did it or didn't" happen as the author portrays it.
An awful of lot rings true, but I think the way Mr Wilson wears his heart on his sleeve and the almost caricature way in which his plotters are portrayed, just stopped me giving it a 5 star rating.
November 11, 2018
To say that the characters within this book are only just one dimensional and that the book itself serves as nothing more than an apology piece for a former PM would be to overstate it’s importance.
I could say it is sub standard John le Carre but that would be so a disservice to the sub standard John le Carre authors out there.
I could say it is sub standard John le Carre but that would be so a disservice to the sub standard John le Carre authors out there.
March 19, 2021
I don't rate this as highly as the first three in the series, but better than number 4 (which I found a bit bonkers). The book is not really in the traditional spy thriller mould - much of the second half of the book consists of brief episodes giving small insights into a developing coup plot.
I do feel books 1-3 should be read before coming to this one.
I do feel books 1-3 should be read before coming to this one.
October 6, 2021
I really enjoyed some of the earlier Catesby books but this one didn't do it for me. Too many threads and characters, too disparate, too broad in scope. Usually I like a massive complex plot but this one lacked the cohesion to stay in my head. I was pleased to be reading on Kindle, as it let me use the search function to look up characters when I got confused.
May 21, 2019
A very British ending
This is an excellent work that combines the life of a spy with his humble roots.
Although a novel and difficult to read at times, , it draws on historical events to keep the reader wanting to turn the next page.
This is an excellent work that combines the life of a spy with his humble roots.
Although a novel and difficult to read at times, , it draws on historical events to keep the reader wanting to turn the next page.
January 11, 2021
Very well written. I’ve read all your books except the last and intend to read it next.
I like reading things that happened while I was a young man and seeing the other side of history. A history I saw before was written by the victors.
I like reading things that happened while I was a young man and seeing the other side of history. A history I saw before was written by the victors.
February 4, 2021
They get better and better
I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series and this, the 5th is the best so far
The story is totally believable, the fiction interspersed with interesting facts
Other reviews have compared Wilson to Le care I think he is better
I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series and this, the 5th is the best so far
The story is totally believable, the fiction interspersed with interesting facts
Other reviews have compared Wilson to Le care I think he is better
April 8, 2023
A good ‘history’ novel
one of my favourite genres mixed with recent and well known history and geography, Edward Wilson’s novel chuffed along without high drama but indulged us all with the lovingly human character’s closeted life of intrigue.
one of my favourite genres mixed with recent and well known history and geography, Edward Wilson’s novel chuffed along without high drama but indulged us all with the lovingly human character’s closeted life of intrigue.
December 14, 2024
This is not a spy novel but a pamphlet by an extreme leftwing writer, where every rightwing person is an evil cliche and every leftwinger a holy saint, Americans are the devil incarnate and the murderous Communist regimes are benevolent . Stupid book of tiresome Corbynista
February 3, 2019
Masterful tale of espionage and betrayal
Wilson's fictional account of U.S. meddling in UK politics is neither fanciful nor far-fetched. A gripping read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Wilson's fictional account of U.S. meddling in UK politics is neither fanciful nor far-fetched. A gripping read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 11, 2019
Probably 3.5 stars, was a bit over the top, still a good reminder of the Cold War and whether the USA were really interested in peace or were COMPLETELY swept up in Reds Under The BED.
March 10, 2020
Fascinating re the politics of the time and although at first I found characters lacking depth I ended up really enjoying it.
April 9, 2021
Like the character but the plot is week. You would be better reading a history book
April 30, 2021
A story about the ‘Secret State’ and cIA conspiracy against Harold Wilson, tracing the parallel careers of MI6 officer William Catesby and Wilson himself from 1947 through 1976.
October 14, 2024
Stupid book
Book stupid
Bopid Okstu
Book stupid
Bopid Okstu
May 23, 2025
Well written and researched, a fascinating period of recent history and which as youngsters we recall aspects of it and remember the arguments and discussions around the key issues of the day.
March 9, 2017
This is an outstanding spy/thriller. It combines historical fact with fiction about a plot to overthrow the Labour government of Harold Wilson. A fantastic read and very relevant to the prospects awaiting a corbyn led government
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews