Undercover Agent: How one of SOE's youngest agents helped defeat the Nazis

by Mark Seaman

Tony Brooks was unique. He was barely out of school when recruited in 1941 by the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the wartime secret service established by Churchill to 'set Europe ablaze'. After extensive training he was parachuted into France in July 1942 - being among the first (and youngest) British agents sent to support the nascent French Resistance. Brook's success was primarily due to his exceptional qualities as a secret agent, although he was aided by large and frequent slices of luck. Among much else, he survived brushes with a British traitor and a notorious double agent; the Gestapo's capture of his wireless operator and subsequent attempts to trap Brooks; brief incarceration in a Spanish concentration camp; injuries resulting from a parachute jump into France; and even capture and interrogation by the Gestapo - although his cover story held and he was released.In an age when we so often take our heroes from the worlds of sport, film, television, music, fashion, or just 'celebrity', it is perhaps salutary to be reminded of a young man who ended the war in command of a disparate force of some 10,000 armed resistance fighters, and decorated with two of this country's highest awards for gallantry, the DSO and MC. At the time, he was just twenty-three years old.This remarkable, detailed and intimate account of a clandestine agent's dangerous wartime career combines the historian's expert eye with the narrative colour of remembered events. As a study in courage, it has few, if any, equals.

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

535 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2018

Reviews

[Iain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading the paperback edition, which has been re-titled 'Undercover Agent' for unspecified reasons.

A factually thorough and very dry recounting of young agent Tony Brook's time in France organising and aiding the Resistance during the 2nd World War. There is no doubting either Brook's extraordinary bravery and service, nor the author's good intentions and well researched endeavour. However, the writing is flat, there is a complete lack of emotion or tension, where it should be filled with such things. There are points where I'm afraid it just becomes a bit boring, when in actuality it should be a thrilling adventure story. Perhaps due to the very nature of the Resistance, it also paints a very muddled and confusing picture - it's easy to lose track of who is who and who is doing what and where everyone is as so many names and aliases are banded around.

A shame - perhaps the story is better suited to a fictional retelling where the emotional roller-coaster of the war could be felt rather than described in such detail. One for complete-ists and those with a particular interest in the world of wartime espionage.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlike other books on the SOE that I've read, I found this one just a ponderous list of facts. As such, it became very difficult to remember who was who. The whole thing just didn't hang together with a supporting narrative as a spine.

[Mark]

Amazing story of an amazing brave young man, and an incredible WW2 organisation, that was penetrated by Gestapo and betrayed by willing and unwilling confessions, and whose role in preparing Nazi Occupied Europe for eventual defeat, has been analysed and assessed by countless historians and continues to defy any generalisation or conclusion.

[Dawn Wadeson · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the first time, I have actually had to give up reading! The way the book is written was not a style I was able to engage with - the story is interesting but I couldn’t connect with the narrative due to the writing style.

[Zoë Routh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this true account of young man's role as spy in France as a British agent. What a time for the world! For young people. What people had to live through. It is really quite extraordinary.

Audiobook version was excellent.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible WW2 story! I’m always in awe of how these people lived and survived during the war!

Without a doubt STILL the GREATEST generation!

[Nick Harriss · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those great books about someone you had previously not heard of, but who you wish you had had the honour to meet.