Stars and Spies

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This engaging history explores the intriguing relationship between espionage and show business from the Elizabethan era to the present day. It highlights the consistent crossover between these two fields, often resulting in remarkable undercover agents and, at times, significant failures. Despite their contrasting reliance on publicity and secrecy, both domains attract similar personalities due to their shared demands for creativity, improvisation, and role-play. The narrative begins in the golden age of theatre during Elizabeth I's reign, featuring playwright and spy Christopher Marlowe. It continues through the Restoration with Aphra Behn, the first professional female playwright and spy for the British government. The journey takes us through Civil War America, Tsarist Russia, and fin de siècle Paris, where writers and entertainers serve as vital agents or become subjects of surveillance. As the twentieth century unfolds, espionage becomes increasingly central to global affairs, with showbiz providing essential cover for agents. Notable figures like Somerset Maugham, Graham Greene, Noel Coward, and Alexander Korda are among those drawn into intelligence work. Simultaneously, spying permeates popular culture, influencing iconic characters like James Bond and the thrillers of John le Carré. Written by experts Christopher Andrew and Julius Green, this work offers a captivating examination of the links between intelligence serv