Ace of Spies: Story of Sidney Reilly

by Robin Bruce Lockhart

The incredible story of Sidney Rielly, the most amazing secret agent in the history of espionage.

Genres: Biography, Espionage, History, Nonfiction, Russia, War, British Literature

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTrvj...

Wiki description: Reilly, Ace of Spies is a 1983 television miniseries dramatizing the life of Sidney Reilly, a Russian Jew who became one of the greatest spies ever to work for the British. Among his exploits, in the early 20th century, were the infiltration of the German General Staff in 1917 and a near-overthrow of the Bolsheviks in 1918. His reputation with women was as legendary as his genius for espionage.

The mini series is written by Troy Kennedy Martin, and based on the 1967 book Ace of Spies by Robin Bruce Lockhart, whose father R. H. Bruce Lockhart was one of Reilly's fellow spies.

Episode 01 - 1901 - An Affair with a Married Woman

1904 - Episode 02 - Prelude to War



Japanese entering Port Arthur

Japanese soldiers form a human pyramid to assault a Port Arthur fort. Atop the wall is Russian Captain Lebedief, who killed many Japanese.

1905 - Episode 03 - The Visiting Fireman



Of interest in this third episode: Basil Zaharoff

1906 - Episode 04 - Anna

William Knox D'Arcy: (11 October 1849 – 1 May 1917) was one of the principal founders of the oil and petrochemical industry in Persia (Iran).

In 1908 at Masjid-i-Suleiman, south-west Persia, a large oil reservoir was discovered by a small team of drillers working for William Knox D'Arcy.

1910 - Episode 05 - Dreadnoughts and Crosses

The Russians want to rebuild the navy which was destroyed by the Japs in 1904

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and fascinating recap of Sidney Reilly's life and exploits. As the author suggests, some of the tales told of Reilly may be a little tall, but even so, he was an incredible brave man and possessed that one ingredient that George Hill insists a life in the shadows requires; that of 'wit'.

As I have with Sir Paul Dukes, Captain George Hill, and Sir Robin Bruce Lockhart, I tip my hat.

[Nancy Oakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robin Bruce Lockhart is the son of Sir Robert Hamilton Bruce Lockhart, and was acting General Consul in Moscow in 1917 (and also served as a secret agent) when the Bolsheviks overthrew the government in Russia; then later arrested by the secret police there for purportedly being involved with a plot to assassinate Lenin. He knew Sidney Reilly, the subject of this book, and passed along several stories to his son, who compiled them in this book. There are stories from others about Reilly here as well, and Robin Bruce Lockhart, the author, had actually met the enigmatic Reilly as a child. The book covers Reilly's life & career, then moves along to examine different conclusions as to whether Reilly actually died in 1925 (when he'd gone back to Russia) or whether he remained a prisoner, escaped, or whatever.

I first became aware of Sidney Reilly when, in the 1980s, PBS first broadcast that phenomenal series "Reilly: Ace of Spies." I watched every episode without fail. Lockhart's book was the basis of that series. The book was really interesting, and it was an intriguing look at some of the inner workings of spycraft & espionage from the British, as well as that of the Germans & then the Russians and Bolsheviks. I have 2 issues with this book. First: it does tend to read like a group of stories passed down and then transcribed onto paper. Second: there is absolutely no documentation of sources anywhere. The historian in me (my college majors) always views undocumented work etc. with a bit of skepticism, especially in a work that is definitely historical in nature.

Overall, though, it was very interesting and whetted my appetite enough to compile a list of other publications that deal with the same subject matter in Lockhart's book. I'd recommend it to people who are interested in real-life British spies, or in the Bolshevik takeover of Russia, in the machinations by the CHEKA in order to maintain Bolshevik rule, or to anyone who might wish to read an interesting biography.

[Jimp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hair-raising account of Sydney Reilly's most extraordinary and mysterious life.

The proverbs, 'Who Dares Wins' and 'Fortune Favours the Brave' come to mind.

Sydney was a con-artist and fraudster, but not for want of lining in his own pocket. If you were acting for the British, threw on a German Army officers uniform and wandered into a high-ranking military meeting gathered an arm-load of information and passed it onto British Intelligence, then I'd suggest you are an 'ace' con-artist and fraudster.

Anyone who can speak seven languages fluently has a most incredible intellect, as becomes apparent when reading this.

In accepting that Robin Bruce Lockhart would never damage the family name and so make sure recorded events kept in pace with 'Memoirs of a British Agent' by RH Lockhart, I'm sure the Lockhart family (generations it would seem have worked for Britain's intelligence services) would have as much access to archived documents as any historian; and I do believe 99.999% of what Robin Bruce Lockhart has penned here.

This is a marvellously written account and a real joy to read. Sydney's womanising, gambling and story-telling might not have been to the liking of the 'Old Etonions' in Whitehall; however, he deserves the highest of recognition.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Robert Hamilton Bruce Lockhart, KCMG, mentions in his book, Memoirs of a British Agent, knowing Sydney Reilly (Ace of Spies) and how he was a decent chap and most of the tittle-tattle of him being a scandalous terror is what we call, today, 'fake news'. As I've just found from reading this, by Robert Norman (Robin) Bruce Lockhart, Sir Robert Hamilton's son, those Bolshies were none to pleased with having Sydney around and they were 'aces' when it came to propaganda (fake news).

I'm of the mind Sir Robert Hamilton was a decent sort himself and not too inclined to spread rumour or misinformation. In fact Sydney may well have been plotting to do away with Lenin but, in fact, he had nought to do with the shooting of Lenin (the shooting Lenin barely survived). And just so you know, and it is my opinion, if girls are allowed to play the honey trap game, then boys are too, so to call Sydney a sleaze, a womaniser, a cad, is, in my book, out of order. Handsome chap, sparkle in his eye, self-confident, intelligent, connected: girls are going to give the man the sweet-eye.

He held a fearsome dislike for the Bolsheviks, they'd imprisoned and executed good friends. He was passionate, dedicated and driven to put an end to their thuggery.

A real-life James Bond; what's not to like about the fella'?

[Phillip Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected to read exciting exploits of a superspy but what I got was an interesting history of espionage in the early 20th century. Reilly was a man of mystery who infiltrated the German High Command and pulled many other feats that made his reputation. I loved how history came alive in this book as Reilly played the game of intrigue but eventually lost his life when a Soviet sting got him. Some may call him a villain in regard to his bigamy and gambling but he was sincere about freeing Russia from the Communists.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and informative biography of a real spy, who accomplished some amazing things, despite having very little help, or training.

Maybe the CIA should read this book, and get a clue.

[Nooilforpacifists · Rating 2 out of 5]

Watch the first six or seven episodes of the mini-series instead of reading this book.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out so well, Reilly's adventures were absolutely fascinating, just like a bond novel (which he may well have inspired). But after the first few chapters, the book delved deeply into aspects of the Russian Revolution that I knew little about and the context of which was not explained, so I felt rather lost and confused. I kept at it but it was hard work and as the book continued, it turned into a collection of many reports from different sources during that era, making it less of a book to read out of interest and more of a research dossier or thesis on the topic of Sidney Reilly. Reilly was without doubt an interesting character and this book was an informative but not what I would call a very enjoyable read.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reilly was an exciting man who lived an incredibly exciting life and the author (the son of another British spy plying his trade in Russia during the revolution) has written a very exciting account of Reilly's life.

I did at times think, 'Maybe, Reilly was born to be where he was when he was.'

A really exciting read.

[Dottie (I'm not dotty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really exciting read. He did live life to the full.

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

The almost unbelievable story Of Sidney Reilly who spied for the British Secret Service in Russia and the Far east. He disappeared in 1925 while trying to engineer the overthrow of the Bolsheviks. Quite fascinating.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic is amazing and extremely interesting; the book is kind of dreary and dry. I am fortunately well read on the period, as the author clearly writes this book for folks that must know quite a bit of the background already since little is provided.

I would have loved more references and suggestions for related stories to have been provided; the book lacks details and the footnotes I so like to see more of. This said, the book is adequate and gives some quality background for our intrepid spy, just in time for me to sit down now and enjoy the TV series. 2.5 stars

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry at times but nonetheless a fascinating life

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good story not very well told. Why novels are better than non-fiction.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit confusing but interesting. Dry-ish but packed with information. Some unconscious bias and just enough touches of systemic elitism to make me squirm unpleasantly.

[Peter Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found my old battered copy in an op shop for a few cents and,remembering the TV series from the 1980s,decided to return to Reilly and his adventures.It’s an enthralling read full of amazing exploits in the pre WW I years and the years of the Russian Revolution.He was a complex man and this book doesn’t really penetrate his mystery but could anyone fully understand what made this womanising trickster tick?Love of money and women certainly;enjoyment of excitement and a kind of power?Did he really almost kill and overthrow Lenin and Trotsky?Or was he actually a double or triple agent working for the Soviets to disrupt anti-Bolshevik activities.This book is convinced his efforts were genuine but in a later book Bruce Lockhart claims that he did not die in 1925 at the hands of the Soviets but lived on to organise the Cambridge 5 spy group (at least according to Wikipedia).This book on which the TV series was based is not as exciting as the series but is a solid piece of work,as detailed as a work about a man of mystery could be.Recommended but only for lovers of true spy stories and Russian history.

[Alexander Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce Lockhart, the author, was a spy master for the British. This is an account of his top spy Sidney Reilly. It was written during the days before and during World War I, when the English converted their navy to oil from coal. According to this account the securing of Iran (Persia) was done by the efforts of Reilly, a fearless individual. He later took on the Bolshevists in Russia and disappeared in 1925, the victim of counter-espionage. Or did he? Reilly was born in Russia and later decided to work for the British before and after the Great War. While he pulled off a number of coupes for the British, I got the distinct idea that he may have been a double agent, working for the Soviets. Anyway, there is plenty of unexplored mystery about the man who some say was the womanizing dare-devil who was the model for James Bond. (Not according to Ian Fleming, however). Like all non-fiction, Lockhart's account is straightjacketed to the truth. And being a man of mystery, there are a lot of unanswered questions about Reilly, the Ace of Spies.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this book higher if it wasn't for the fact that many of the tales told in here have been proven false. This isn't the author's fault, he was writing at a time where quite a lot of information was not available. Most of the stories are fantastical and come from Reilly himself. it is myth building and probably was easier to swallow before the world had access to so much information at the drop of a hat.

That being said, much of the material involving Reilly's activities in Russia during the first World War and the Bolshevik takeover are reasonably accurate, though Reilly always had a habit of embellishing his role in things, making himself a bigger wheel than he was. On the other hand, he was suffienctly a big enough wheel to be targeted by a Communist counter-intelligence operation, lured back to Russia and shot.

I bought this book because I enjoyed the old TV series based on it, which turned out to be an embellishment on an already embellished story. Sydney Reilly was a sociopath, a con man, and an excellent spy. It is well worth a ready, but buyer beware.

[Doug Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This little book by the son of British diplomat/spy Bruce Lockhart about the mysterious Sidney Reilly supplies some interesting details of Reilly's spying career and ultimate disappearance back into Russia - otherwise it wouldn't rate even two stars. To say the book is of inconsistent quality and coherence is to be too kind. The author's own personal and heated political views heavily color the telling. At one point the author retails the mystical vision of one of Reilly's wives to the effect that he was alive in 1935 as evidence that he was in fact alive 10 years after he disappeared in Soviet Russia.

Reilly was a terrifically successful spy for years, his anti-Soviet passion led him repeatedly back even after he was well known, he was duped by Dzerhinsky to cross the border in 1925 and disappeared into Soviet prison. He was undoubtedly executed sometime shortly thereafter. The author can't quite seem to accept that.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book succeeds in capturing the glamour, intrigue, and danger surrounding Reilly's career, bringing to life the world of espionage in the years before and after the Russian Revolution. In his telling, the author often seems captivated by his subject, with the narrative tending to favour the legend over critical analysis and with the lack of firm evidence surrounding many of Reilly's exploits, speculation and anecdote sometimes takes precedence over historical certainty.

Yet, the man himself remains frustratingly elusive, and the book never fully penetrates the layers of self-invention and exaggeration that defined his life. As a result, at times this felt more like an adventure story than a rigorous examination of the man behind the myth.

Reading of Reilly was an enjoyable introduction to one of espionage's most enigmatic figures; it’s engaging and colourful, even though it leaves many questions unanswered.

[Dvora Treisman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started watching the British TV series and the character intrigued me enough to stop watching and read the book first. Most of the book was good -- interesting and readable -- but not all. I found Reilly to be fascinating. I didn't appreciate Lockhart's detailed descriptions of Soviet torture methods; less of that would have been enough. I also thought the end was ruined with Lockhart's inclusion of translations of a few Soviet press and other reports about Reilly. If he had to include them, he should have done it in an afterword. That way I could have skipped it. In fact, after giving it a go, I did skip much of it.
There are a couple of other books about Reilly that seem to have promise and one in particular that proposes some kind of alternative to his end. I'll probably look into that. But before that, I'll finish watching that TV series and Sam Neill.

[Ross Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the centennial anniversary of his execution, I spent the evening finishing up the book on his life.

I've have this book in my collection for 40 years (picked it up during my "Must Buy All Books about or related to James Bond" phase). I once had to decide between this one and "Comrade Spy" to read for school - I went with the later.

However, when I learned of the upcoming anniversary of his death, I decided to give it a go.

The book was average - kinda hard to enjoy a pre-Cold War espionage, when we have so much going on right now. I was excited by the first few chapters, but after a while, it was the Same Ol, Same Ol with Sidney.

I will go and watch the 1980s mini series based on the book, to answer "which is better - book or TV series"

[Margaret Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I well remember Sam Neil television programme of years ago. I was interested to read this amazing story in more detail and the history of this genius and complicated man who was murdered by his captors.The brutal treatment of prisioners were graphic and upsetting and no doubt similar to the horrific treatment prisioners under he Nazi regime.
MargaretB

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book on which the wonderful BBC series, Reilly: Ace of Spies, was based (& which I recently watched for the third time). The author's father was involved with the real Sidney Reilly. Subsequent scholarship has cast doubt on some of the events presented in this book, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of reading it.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likely read this first when the TV series with Sam Neill came out in the 1980s. The series was very well done. The book is a bit drier in tone, but was obviously the source for that series. Successful spies tend to have murky backgrounds and Reilly is no exception. There are various facts in time, but much is unknown about his life and ultimately his death. Solid read about an exceptional spy.

[Emily Correll · Rating 3 out of 5]

outline of Reilly’s life

Very sketchy outline of life of Sydney Reilly and various actions attributed to him. Leaves one wishing for more definitive information. However good companion to the BBC tv series.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This subject has fascinated me for ages. I've watched the PBS series with Sam Neill more than once, not losing my interest in this man, the times, the methods and behaviors of nations espionage.

Uncertainty has remained.

[Bob Koelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, like a British boys adventure book.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real enjoyment and a good thriller. An adventurer, a womaniser, a patriot and highly intelligent and very brave. I would have accepted his offer to dance.