The Secret Agent's Bedside Reader: A Compendium of Spy Writing

by Michael Smith (Editor)

Espionage fact and fiction collide in this thrilling anthology, where you’ll find some of the greatest spy stories ever written alongside genuine agent reports and instructions that changed the course of history.

Genres: History, Espionage, Short Stories

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

There is more than one Michael Smith in the database.

Michael Smith is a British author and screenwriter who specializes in spies and espionage.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Rrlgrrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent bedside reader. Each of the "chapters" were really excerpts of other works, and they were short enough to be a read a few at a time. Some of the archival excerpts were dry to read, but those agents who went on to be literary figures had some very good vignettes. I liked the addition of fiction in the excerpts, so now I have more authors to look for in the thriller-spy fiction genre.

[Brian Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting selection but would have preferred longer stories/accounts to understand more.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately interesting, but by its nature a fairly superficial read.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and worth the time. Usefully informative.