Ace of Spies: The True Story of Sidney Reilly (Revealing History

by Andrew Cook

Sidney Reilly influenced world history through acts of extraordinary courage and sheer audacity. He was a master spy, a brilliant con man, a charmer, and a cad who lived on his wits and thrived on danger, using women shamelessly and killing where necessary—and unnecessary. Sidney Reilly is one of the most fascinating spies of the 20th century, yet he remains one of the most enigmatic. Introducing new evidence gathered from an extraordinary range of sources, Andrew Cook tells the full story of Sidney Reilly’s life. He proves conclusively who Reilly was, where he came from, and the truth behind his most daring exploits.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Russia, Espionage, Ebooks

442 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2002

Reviews

[Matthew J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crap. I kinda knew he was bad news, but Andrew Cook's biography of Sidney Reilly paints the picture of a real bastard. Cook tries to cut through a lot of the crap that's been written over the years, from friends who repeated lies he told them to conspiracy theories without evidence to back them up. The real story, as best as Cook could put together, is plenty fascinating enough. Even before Reilly (not his real name) got mixed up with the Brits and the Bolsheviks, he already had a checkered past. Almost certainly guilty of straight-up murder for profit (twice) and a disappearance (likely murder, too), he got his fingers into almost every kind of criminal enterprise. He made a lot of enemies along the way and eventually paid the price. It's a heck of a story of a self-made man, a dashing cad, a scheming sociopath, a false patriot, an opportunist extraordinaire. The number of times he almost failed dramatically are matched by the times he almost succeeded in grandiose machinations. You can see why Ian Fleming drew inspiration for James Bond, but if he had known the truth, he might just as well as used Reilly as inspiration for Blofeld. He's a reminder that we sometimes make heroes of villains.

[Wilhelmina Hoftyzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

well researched, but what a slog to get through. Trying to remember names, agencies, relationships, was trying to say the least. It was a very difficult book to read, because it did not flow, and I was happy to reach the end. Not an interesting read in the way of so many biographies, and unfortunately I still don't quite grasp the overwhelming information in this book.

[Geof · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some people have the remarkable ability to make an interesting topic completely boring.

[Richard Goth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and detailed biography of the modern era's prototypical spy. Reilly is revealed in equal parts as dashing, dastardly, roguish and deadly. No doubt continuing revelations will lead to an updated third edition in time. Reilly has not surrendered all his secrets yet, 95 years after his death!

[Max Nemtsov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Несколько пунктирная книга — но она и не биография, скорее «работа над ошибками», а потому требует знакомства с основными обстоятельствами жизни и творчества Сидни Джорджа Райлли (будем для удобства называть его так, а не, скажем, Шломо Михайлович Розенблюм). Кук обстоятельно показывает нам, что не очень вообще-то понятно, почему он «супер-шпион» (хотя понятно, на самом деле, — пиар хороший): там скорее все дело было в наглости, везении, быстрых реакциях, ушлости и фантастической беспринципности. Что? Все равно получается супер-шпион? Ну, стало быть, тогда он и есть.
Мне, понятно, интереснее всего была та роль, которую он сыграл в Русско-японской войне: действительно ли помог японцам с передачей планов Порт-Артура, а как раз на этот вопрос ответить уже невозможно. Вот автор и не отвечает, ограничиваясь намеками и домыслами. В родном городе Райлли тоже, скорее всего, не бывал, эх.
В общем, как и любая шпионская история, эта — далеко не полна, хотя Кук очень старается заполнить пробелы и исправить враки и ошибки (в этом смысле показательны приложения — мини-очерки, развенчивающие самые популярные мифы о нашем герое). «Заговор послов», например, — о котором на русском до сих пор существует лишь версия, озвученная в первых советских прокламациях 1918 года, что отдельно смешно и многое говорит нам о нынешней пост-советской историографии. Вообще советский извод истории — он как художественный перевод «советской школы», в значительной степени основан на ошибках троечников.
Хотя эта книжка — и сама ее пунктирность — все равно подводит к мысли, что у Райлли всю дорогу была некая тайная «повестка дня», он как будто работал по предназначенной ему программе, заранее зная, к чему все приведет. Об этом, впрочем, мы, наверное, все равно никогда уже не узнаем. Можно лишь гадать, не была ли эта повестка дня просто-напросто планом личного обогащения (в этой матрице иногда самые простые мотивации оказываются самыми верными): а коммерческое посредничество и брокерство, действительно мастером какого Райлли был, в этом смысле ничем не отличается от торговли информацией, так что такой шаг ему в 1917 году было сделать легко.
В общем, если интересно, добро пожаловать в пинчоновский мир Шаблона (Райлли даже на Мальте свой небольшой след оставил, вполне как V.). Дело, конечно, не в том, что наш герой был романтиком (его финансирование Савинкова лишь кажестя бескорыстной борьбой против большевизма — на самом деле, он вполне готовился стричь купоны с переформатирования России без большевиков). Просто Райлли действовал по даже не викторианским, а прямо-таки феодальным лекалам поведения в мире зарождающегося империализма: был рыцарем-одиночкой, ронином, в стремительно бюрократизировавшейся системе — и, понятно, проиграл. Его отношения с СИС очень наглядно это показывают: в систему, как другие, он так и не встроился. И этим вполне нам симпатичен.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of information that a scholar would find noteworthy, crammed into just under 300 pages. I feel like I learned a lot but there was so much that was extraneous. It would be impossible to keep all of the minor characters straight unless you were a student of the history of espionage in World War I. That being said, I really thought the second half of the book picked up and told the story of Reilly's exploits in a more straightforward, linear way. The author was at his best when he was simply telling a tale and not trying to debunk the false mythology that has built up around Reilly and his career. My book club talked about Reilly's personality, his background, and the reasons why he might be considered a confidence man instead of a spy. Worthwhile, and I learned some things, but it definitely leans towards an academic read instead of a popular history along the lines of what Ben Macintyre might write. I'd love to see him tackle Reilly as a subject.

[Tarun · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not get into this book at all. It does appear well-researched but other than there isn’t much.

1. The book seemed to be a never-ending list of mundane facts. This made it really difficult to stay engaged.
2. There aren’t really any exploits or stories that jumped out. Part of it may have been that I wasn’t in the story but my takeaway was he was an administrative spy who created a lot of mundane identities.
3. He didn’t really seem to accomplish anything of note.

This was definitely a book I finished because I started it.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've recently read the book by Robin Bruce Lockheart on Sydney Reilly and followed it up with this novel, which has the benefits of many more documents from both Britain and Russia to fill in the details and demystify the myths surrounding this secret agent. It's incredible how many false stories, reported as truth, exist. While his actions in Russia and Germany are truthful, if embellished in Reilly's retelling, it is clear he was a con-man, a sociopath, and a criminal only out for himself. Of course, all this probably made him an excellent spy. Well worth a read.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another gift from the grandparents: I think I'll spend a weekend at theirs and fill my boots. I've a sense, more a gut-feeling, there is more to know of 'Our Sydney.' Definitely bright as new penny and in possession of boundless charisma. Suggestions he was little more than a ladies man is I think are off the mark. Reckless is a charge that could be levelled. He was charged with a mission: something I doubt was ever too far from his conscious thoughts.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

[Lilian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A difficult read, needs you to concentrate on each nuance. The fables about Sidney Reilly are much more interesting than the chapters disproving them.

[Gabbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is a historian, signed up by the establishment. I enjoyed reading of Sidney, therein I'll give this 3 stars.

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 2 out of 5]

With a life and a character as fascinating, colourful, eventful as this, it is no surprise there are not only a plethora of books about Sidney Reilly but at least one television series - and what is more, films of a whole genre inspired by this character, and his style.

That the James Bond character was created based on this legendary man is the least of the enigma, so fascinating is the figure of this man veiled in mystery.

Born in Russia before revolution, his birth was another mystery, with an established well known wealthy family but a natural father so high up in hierarchy that when at one point he - the son - was assigned the job of toppling the Soviet government he was plausibly the intended figure to lead the revolt and take over in the name of a regime closer to the old monarchy.

He lived during a most turbulent time of history of Europe and the world, and while spying for more than one nation was also a businessman with flair, wealth he created and style he lived in attracting attention and more. He worked for various nations including Britain and Germany, with intrigues that had repercussions on Russia, Japan, Britain, Germany, and more.

Whatever one can find about such a figure of mystery is worth a look.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2010
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And that was what one thought before reading this book, which is very different in spirit from some of the other works about him, the others being more towards what one wrote then, quoted above.

This work by Andrew Cook, however, is more of a dissection of the legend and attempt to debunk all the mystery and the glory attached, if not outright denouement. Cook does not write a biography or even tell a tale as much as he attempts to dissect all the stories about Reilly, quoting carefully assembled evidence of papers and cables, letters and more, which finally amounts to a "not this, not that" but leaves one with very little except confusion - was Cook trying to destroy the mystery and the legend, deliberately, and to what purpose, since it does not provide a clear picture at all finally?

He does take into account the point about Reilly being a spy for some if not much of the time, and his having created a mystery about himself from the very beginning, with various stories - but only in that he mentions it all painstakingly, in midst of all the debunking of various legendary tales.

Surprisingly enough the one detail he is careful enough to mention is about Reilly having been sent for his final journey into Russia by deceit, by Boyce; this was someone who was supposedly working for the British intelligence, but as it turned out decades later, was a double agent and trapped Reilly deliberately sending him to his death - and that Reilly did not budge despite the best efforts of the captors, and did not give away any details they were not likely to know already or that could have been very important to them. In this he tacitly and almost openly admits Reilly having been the valiant figure as seen by most, after having shredded him through the book relentlessly.

After all, if Reilly was only after his own interests, clearly he would't have gone so silently to his certain death, just to protect the various people and organisations working against the Bolsheviks, which was after all then Russian government, would he? Far more profitable for a profiteer and selfish person to make a deal with his captors to the effect of turning into their agent, for example, and leaving Russia for a cosy life in Britain, surely? His manner of death as described by Cook ironically belies all Cook denounces him for.

The deceit of Boyce, and the fleeting mention of Kim Philby, in the context of this finale, makes one wonder about the author. One wonders fleetingly, having finished the book, whether this strenuous shredding of Reilly until the final chapter when his conduct post his capture exonerates him, is due to a casteist view taken by the author - after all, the repeated disdainful mention about his claiming to be a British national born in Ireland while in reality looking like a Russian Asiatic with Jewish and Mongolian features, does not escape notice. One wonders if this is why Reilly is being debunked in this work while the real double agents who conceivably did much to damage British and allies interests get but a mention at the end.

Or did Cook write shredding the Boyce, Philby and co too?

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THURSDAY, June 30, 2010
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[Russianwitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading the book without many expectations, but with the warning from goodreads reviewers in the back of my head that it was dull. Having finished I am yet to make up my mind if that's true or not.
What is noticeable is that the author can't seem to make up his mind if he's writing a biography or trying to stick it to all the previous authors who wrote on the same subject. The slightly obnoxious lecturing tone that constantly reminds the reader what other authors did wrong, I could have done without.
On the purely informative side, a lot of information is given along with some context to the geopolitical situation in which events took place that is very helpful. A clear picture is drawn up of the man that started the legend that I had previously only been familiar with through a television series.
I can't say I would recommend it to anyone to read for entertainment, but would definitely recommend it if one was researching the history of modern espionage for example.

[Gentian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, as the rating says it was ok....... This book could have been so much more. The author has obviously gone to quite some lengths to research the background of this mysterious, self aggrandising character. The book systematically debunks a lot of the Pepita/Lockhart promoted myths about Reilly. The writing is decent but surprisingly for such a detailed book the reader is left feeling that there was more to be said.

The Kindle Edition (which I read) was let down by the fact that the automatic link to the copious footnotes was missing which made it difficult to navigate.

The Thames Television Series was excellent, I know I am watching a work of pure fabrication when I sit down to enjoy it but in this case fiction is so much better than fact.

[Vincent S]

Debunked much of Robin Bruce Lockhart's account of Reilly and the PBS mini-series. Spends most of his time tearing down the Reilly myth and contradicting the accounts of other authors and contemporaries of Reilly with good evidence. PBS series more entertaining.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam O'Neill played Sidney Reilly in a pbs series in the 80s. The real sidney Reilly would do anything for money; still a great read about the real life inspiration for Fleming's James Bond character.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know enough of the original Reilly myths to fully appreciate the work Cook put into his research and setting the story straight. It was interesting, but since my knowledge in many of these areas was limited, it was a lot of work to get the proper context.

[Ray Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

ground to a halt after about 60 pages - pacing slow and writing turgid. very disappointing. maybe I'll go back to it sometime, but once I put it down I couldn't pick it up.

[Nadin Boegelsack · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing style is very disappointing, I just couldn't make myself finish this book

[Anna Ros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a biography. Very well researched and certainly revealing. The writing itself isn't very compelling but as I read for research purposes that was not an issue.

[Lesha Symons Ervin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story about WWI. Thrilling, interesting, charming story Bout the very beginnings of the cold war.