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The Story of 'St 25' Adventure and Romance in the Secret Intelligence Service in Red Russia
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1938
90 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dukes
49 books3 followersPaul Dukes was a historian at the University of Aberdeen, known for his work relating to Russia and Europe.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 15, 2023
If you've read 'Red Dusk and the Morrow', you may not want to take the time with this. This is the full unabridged version and published shortly before WW2.
If 'Red Dusk and the Morrow', left you, as it did me, with a massive hunger for more of the same, you'll want to get your hands on a copy. It might be hard to find. I read John's copy, he has friends in London that deal in the second-hand book market.
There's heaps more about the man himself, before becoming 'the man of a hundred faces' and more detail of when he was 'the man of ....'
Riveting stuff, I'd love to own a copy.
Ohh, and before you dash off.... what I said a few years back, I still argue for:
- it gets mighty cold in Russia during the winter
- people don't have too much of a mind for what's happening about them when their shivering to the bones and huddled around a bit of a fire.
- don't tell me, the likes of Mr Dukes were not smuggling folk out of harms way whenever they could.
It's my belief, (you, of course, are free and able to argue against me) courier lines to both smuggle people and info out of the country were in place way back in the days of revolution and they have remained in place ever since.
I feast on this: (the real world sneaky-beaky stuff)
If 'Red Dusk and the Morrow', left you, as it did me, with a massive hunger for more of the same, you'll want to get your hands on a copy. It might be hard to find. I read John's copy, he has friends in London that deal in the second-hand book market.
There's heaps more about the man himself, before becoming 'the man of a hundred faces' and more detail of when he was 'the man of ....'
Riveting stuff, I'd love to own a copy.
Ohh, and before you dash off.... what I said a few years back, I still argue for:
- it gets mighty cold in Russia during the winter
- people don't have too much of a mind for what's happening about them when their shivering to the bones and huddled around a bit of a fire.
- don't tell me, the likes of Mr Dukes were not smuggling folk out of harms way whenever they could.
It's my belief, (you, of course, are free and able to argue against me) courier lines to both smuggle people and info out of the country were in place way back in the days of revolution and they have remained in place ever since.
I feast on this: (the real world sneaky-beaky stuff)
September 20, 2024
This is basically, 90%, 'Red Dusk and the Morrow', which I've just read and given five stars. ST 25 covers a little more of Paul Dukes life at each end of his time in Russia. I don't see this as a waste of time (it was free to borrow), I'm basically besotted with the man and could read about him all day long. I've already scoured the Internet for anything I could find on Sir Paul.
He has the books that I will seek out.
This remains, for me, a startling account of man that gave everything to defend others: he lived because of his she determination and his immense wit (an ability to think fast, keep all the balls in the air and make good decisions when he was in a tight spot).
We live in different times, I know. They say a book can change your life. This book (RD and TM in honesty) has changed my opinion of the calibre of men that might still, although I accept they'll be few and far between, be out there.
He has the books that I will seek out.
This remains, for me, a startling account of man that gave everything to defend others: he lived because of his she determination and his immense wit (an ability to think fast, keep all the balls in the air and make good decisions when he was in a tight spot).
We live in different times, I know. They say a book can change your life. This book (RD and TM in honesty) has changed my opinion of the calibre of men that might still, although I accept they'll be few and far between, be out there.
November 16, 2023
A more in depth account by Sir Paul Dukes of his life and his adventures while working for Britain's secret intelligence service.
It's everything and more you'll get from his book, 'Red Dusk and the Morrow'; and that is a humdinger of a book.
Those of a character similar to Sir Paul Dukes are one-in-a-million. I tip my hat and feel privileged to have read of his life.
It's everything and more you'll get from his book, 'Red Dusk and the Morrow'; and that is a humdinger of a book.
Those of a character similar to Sir Paul Dukes are one-in-a-million. I tip my hat and feel privileged to have read of his life.
November 17, 2022
"ST 25" is the code name given to Paul Henry Dukes upon his agreement to work for Captain Mansfield-Cumming RN, 'The Chief', the head of MI1C, the foreign section of the British Secret Service Bureau, the organisation which we know today as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) or, more commonly, as MI6.
Written by Sir Paul Henry Dukes and published in 1938, this is 363 pages detailing the exploits of Paul Dukes whilst in post-revolutionary Russia. If you've read 'Red Dusk and the Morrow: Adventures and Investigations in Red Russia' part of what is written therein you will read again in here. Part only. This is a far more detailed and expansive account of how ST 25 and his compatriots lived, survived and operated under the very noses of those feverishly hunting for him and the members of his network.
This is a most engaging and thrilling read.
Having the ability to disguise himself and so pass himself off as a number of different people, he became known as 'the man of a hundred faces', and managed to gain a position with the Cheka (the secret police), the Red Army and the Communist Party.
Shortly after his return to London, in 1920, he was knighted by King George V. The King called Dukes, "the greatest of all soldiers." Sir Paul Henry Dukes remains the only person with a knighthood awarded solely for exploits in espionage.
Sir Paul Henry Dukes dedicated this book to: 'The Chief'.
Written by Sir Paul Henry Dukes and published in 1938, this is 363 pages detailing the exploits of Paul Dukes whilst in post-revolutionary Russia. If you've read 'Red Dusk and the Morrow: Adventures and Investigations in Red Russia' part of what is written therein you will read again in here. Part only. This is a far more detailed and expansive account of how ST 25 and his compatriots lived, survived and operated under the very noses of those feverishly hunting for him and the members of his network.
This is a most engaging and thrilling read.
Having the ability to disguise himself and so pass himself off as a number of different people, he became known as 'the man of a hundred faces', and managed to gain a position with the Cheka (the secret police), the Red Army and the Communist Party.
Shortly after his return to London, in 1920, he was knighted by King George V. The King called Dukes, "the greatest of all soldiers." Sir Paul Henry Dukes remains the only person with a knighthood awarded solely for exploits in espionage.
Sir Paul Henry Dukes dedicated this book to: 'The Chief'.
February 28, 2024
I read this twice. I shall keep it.
Like Beth, I'm besotted with the man. He is dashingly handsome and, dashing. They say the best of spies (which this man undoubtedly was) blend in, remain unnoticeable. There must have been a queue of maidens following behind Mr Dukes. And then he goes and gets knighted.
This is an incredible story told by an incredible man. And I doubt, as some have intimated, that one word of this is fiction. Mr Dukes, I'm absolutely sure, is not one for porkies.
Like Beth, I'm besotted with the man. He is dashingly handsome and, dashing. They say the best of spies (which this man undoubtedly was) blend in, remain unnoticeable. There must have been a queue of maidens following behind Mr Dukes. And then he goes and gets knighted.
This is an incredible story told by an incredible man. And I doubt, as some have intimated, that one word of this is fiction. Mr Dukes, I'm absolutely sure, is not one for porkies.
March 4, 2024
In part, a large part, a study of the Russian people. It does sadden me to think of the horror they endured over many, many years when essentially they are good people.
This does emphasise the tragedy the revolution was.
An enjoyable read.
This does emphasise the tragedy the revolution was.
An enjoyable read.
August 19, 2024
The man came from a reasonably privileged background and could have easily sat back and watched the conflicts of the early 1900s drift by. He didn’t and became known as the man of a hundred faces. I get the sense he was born to be a spy.
A quite remarkable man and a remarkable story. I’ve read that some believe he took to polishing his achievements once he was back in Blighty. I doubt that. Others wishing to gain notoriety, I would suggest, wave that flag. What he achieved has been verified over many years and the breadth of his reputation from all he touched, friend or foe, is enough. He’d no need to pull out the chamois.
To think of the courage it took to stand before the secret police and string them along whilst knowing if he was rumbled it would result in immediate imprisonment, torture and death is remarkable.
This is a story that should be retold and retold and a film that should be made.
A quite remarkable man and a remarkable story. I’ve read that some believe he took to polishing his achievements once he was back in Blighty. I doubt that. Others wishing to gain notoriety, I would suggest, wave that flag. What he achieved has been verified over many years and the breadth of his reputation from all he touched, friend or foe, is enough. He’d no need to pull out the chamois.
To think of the courage it took to stand before the secret police and string them along whilst knowing if he was rumbled it would result in immediate imprisonment, torture and death is remarkable.
This is a story that should be retold and retold and a film that should be made.
September 8, 2024
I failed in my haste to write a review of Red Dusk and the Morrow: depicting Sir Paul Henry Dukes time in Russia making investigations of behalf of the British. This covers much of the same ground but does add greater detail to his life before what he must have seen as his greatest and most dangerous venture. He was knighted by the King for the work he did. The only person ever to be knighted for work done specifically for the secret service alone.
I'm tempted to accept, back in these times, men with this bearing, belief, and ethic were a plenty. Today, they must be few and far between. We have come so far and yet lost so much.
Simply, this is a book one should read many times and treasure.
I'm tempted to accept, back in these times, men with this bearing, belief, and ethic were a plenty. Today, they must be few and far between. We have come so far and yet lost so much.
Simply, this is a book one should read many times and treasure.
August 24, 2023
A fine account of the man's actions in Revolutionary Russia.
Some say, Sir Paul Dukes was inclined to embellish the part he played; I seriously doubt that claim.
Everything said about the man, by those who knew him well, suggests he was of honour and without compromise.
I doff my cap.
Some say, Sir Paul Dukes was inclined to embellish the part he played; I seriously doubt that claim.
Everything said about the man, by those who knew him well, suggests he was of honour and without compromise.
I doff my cap.
July 18, 2017
I have to admit that I was skeptical when I begun reading this and the first few chapters didn't improve my view. It was all very much 'I took the long road, looking over my shoulder to see that nobody was following me and then knocked three times on the second door". As I got further I was surprised to discover that the characters and descriptions of the people and situations that the author encountered were colourful and exciting. I won't go as far as to claim that I got the essence of Russia in that time period but it did influence quite a bit of my view of the things, adding detail and emotion. Whether everything took place as the author described or not ended up not being important to me. In the end I liked it for what it was - a tale of a young guys life in Russia during dangerous times.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews