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The Secret War: Spies, Codes and Guerrillas 1939 - 1945
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 30 hrs and 39 mins
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The Secret War: Spies, Codes and Guerrillas 1939 - 1945
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Summary
Examining the espionage and intelligence stories in World War II on a global basis, bringing together the British, American, German, Russian and Japanese histories.
In The Secret War, Max Hastings examines the espionage and intelligence machines of all sides in World War II and the impact of spies, code breakers and partisan operations on events.
Written on a global scale, the book brings together accounts from British, American, German, Russian and Japanese sources to tell the story of a secret war waged unceasingly by men and women often far from the battlefields but whose actions profoundly influenced the outcome.
Returning to the Second World War for the first time since his best-selling All Hell Let Loose, Hastings weaves into a 'big picture' framework the human stories of spies and intelligence officers who served their respective masters.
Told through a series of snapshots of key moments, the book looks closely at Soviet espionage operations which dwarfed those of every other belligerent in scale as well as the code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park - the greatest intelligence achievement of the conflict - with many more surprising and unfamiliar tales of treachery, deception, betrayal and incompetence by spies of Axis, Allied or indeterminate loyalty.
Critic reviews
"No other general history of the war amalgamates so successfully the gut-wrenching personal details and the essential strategic arguments. Melding the worm's eye view and the big picture is a difficult trick to pull of - but Hastings has triumphed." ( The Times)
"Majestic...it is impossible to emerge without a sense of the sheer scale of human tragedy.... To gather all these anecdotes together is a task in itself, but to assemble them in a way that makes sense is something entirely different.... Hastings shapes all these stories, almost miraculously, into a single coherent narrative." ( Daily Telegraph)
"In this massive work, the crowning volume of the 10 impressive books he has written about the Second World War, Sir Max Hastings spares us nothing in portraying the sheer bloody savagery of the worst war that the world has yet seen...this magnificent book...is hypnotically readable from the first page to the last." ( Sunday Telegraph)
"A fast-moving, highly readable survey of the entire war.... Hastings combines a mastery of the military events with invariably sound judgment and a sharp eye for unusual telling detail...this is military history at its most gripping. Of all Max Hastings's valuable books, this is possibly his best - a veritable tour de force." ( Evening Standard)
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What listeners say about The Secret War: Spies, Codes and Guerrillas 1939 - 1945
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ian
- 09-03-16
Well worth a listen
Max Hastings has produced a master piece. The information is a great insight in to "The Secret War" that went on. Having visited Bletchley Park, it makes what we saw, having listened, more understanding to the debt we owe to all those who worked there.
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- Phil Morgan
- 14-10-18
Another excellent war history
Not many history books make you afraid to miss what happens next. It looks a long listen but its well worth finding the time to keep up.
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- Alex Andrew
- 19-04-24
Superb Book, well written
Excellent book again by a very knowledgeable historian. A overall extensive history of int throughout ww2.
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- Franpa2
- 03-10-17
Very comprehensive , well researched.
A lot to take in but for those interested in the subject, very interesting and holds your attention.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-06-18
Disappointing - Returned
Having been gripped by All Hell Let Loose and having the hard copy of this thought I would get it on audible to get through it quicker. Couldn't get into it so returned it. Dull and boring narration and rambling story. Might have been different read by Cameron Stewart but I think possibly a book that needs to be read not listened to.
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- Paul
- 10-08-18
Excellent
Brilliant and very knowledgeable.
Entertainingly read.
I have the book which I have read a couple of times but to have it read to you is magical.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- Steve_Morris
- 07-11-16
Better to read the book
This book is both exhaustive and exhausting. At times it sounds like a catalogue of events. But it is lightened by Max Hastings' opinionated comments on other's work and some humorous incidents. But the narration is very strange with odd inflections, some passages rendered insensible and some dreadful mispronunciation. Ben McIntyre may not be historically spot on, but his books are much better to listen to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Heather Law
- 01-12-19
Hastings at his best
A complex subject handled with deftness, as well as humour and empathy. Steven Crossley gives an admirable performance, as always.
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- Harry Jones
- 20-09-23
Well worth a listen
As always Max Hastings has done an excellent job. Interesting and well written. The narrator is good and keeps the listener engaged.
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- Dan Rose
- 06-10-17
Very informative
The Secret War by Sir Max Hastings, is an excellent book. Many books that deal with war-time espionage or the so called secret war concentrate on a particular operations, but Hasting's book takes a look at all of the players attempts at the secret war. Whilst it can not claim, and it doesn't to be comprehensive, it is detailed enough to be very interesting. I have read about the work at Bletchley Park or Operation Mincemeat, but I knew virtually nothing about the wartime operations of the Soviet NKVD or the German's Abwehr or the Japanese, this book fills in some of the gaps. The book flows freely and the book keeps you (well me anyway) interested. I would highly recommend this book
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