Double Cross

The True Story of the D-Day Spies

De: Ben Macintyre

Narrado por: John Lee

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “superb [and] intensely readable” (The Washington Post) untold story of one of the greatest deceptions of World War II and the extraordinary spies who achieved it—from the bestselling author of Prisoners of the Castle

“Not since Ian Fleming and John le Carré has a spy writer so captivated readers.”—The Hollywood Reporter

On June 6, 1944, 150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and suffered an astonishingly low rate of casualties. A stunning military achievement, it was also a masterpiece of trickery. Operation Fortitude, which protected and enabled the invasion, and the Double Cross system, which specialized in turning German spies into double agents, tricked the Nazis into believing that the Allied attacks would come in Calais and Norway rather than Normandy. It was the most sophisticated and successful deception operation ever carried out, ensuring Allied victory at the most pivotal moment in the war.

This epic event has never before been told from the perspective of the key individuals in the Double Cross system, until now. These include its director (a brilliant, urbane intelligence officer), a colorful assortment of MI5 handlers (as well as their counterparts in Nazi intelligence), and the five spies who formed Double Cross’s nucleus: a dashing Serbian playboy, a Polish fighter-pilot, a bisexual Peruvian party girl, a deeply eccentric Spaniard, and a volatile Frenchwoman. Together they made up one of the oddest and most brilliant military units ever assembled.

With the same depth of research, eye for the absurd, and masterful storytelling that have made Ben Macintyre an international bestseller, Double Cross is a captivating narrative of the spies who wove a web so intricate it ensnared Hitler’s army and carried thousands of D-Day troops across the Channel in safety.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Macintyre is a master storyteller. Employing a wry wit and a keen eye for detail, he delivers an ultimately winning tale fraught with European intrigue and subtle wartime heroics.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“It is the riveting tales of these agents on which Ben Macintyre focuses, to full advantage, in Double Cross. . . . Macintyre makes good use of the material. He knows how to let the high drama unfold on its own.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Gripping stories from the perspective of a remarkable ragtag group of spies who tricked the Nazis in an astounding D-Day deception. Puts other spy tales to shame.”—People

“Macintyre at once exalts and subverts the myths of spycraft and has a keen eye for absurdity.”—The New Yorker

“Ben Macintyre is the leading practitioner of oddball-powered history. A connoisseur and celebrant of eccentricity, he specializes in often hilarious, sometimes tragic, but always fizzily exhilarating tales of madcap exploits and bizarre adventures . . . A gem.”—The New York Times

“It should be said loud and clear that Macintyre is a supremely gifted storyteller. He spins quite a yarn. His books are absurdly entertaining. I would kill for his keen wit. He takes us into a world of bounders, spivs, roués, and men (and women) on the make. . . . Double Cross is a blast.”—The Boston Globe

“Ben Macintyre’s factual account is more gripping than what you will find anywhere else. It is a story unsurpassed in the long history of intelligence.”—The Washington Times

“A wonderfully entertaining story of deception and trickery that is told with verve and wit.”—Christian Science Monitor

“Macintyre revels in the surreal aspects of his story, writing with a breezy, almost tongue-in-cheek style. But the author is also adept at communicating the seriousness and the stakes of the underlying game. . . . Nail-biting and chuckle-inducing reading.”—Columbus Dispatch

“Another captivating, improbably fresh story of World War II. . . . Double Cross is ennobling, invigorating and, above all, entertaining. Macintyre’s research is impressive, as is his ability to shape disparate facts into a breathless page-turner. . . . Throw in nail-biting suspense and the occasional decadent Nazi (fickle mistress optional) and, with Macintyre in charge, you’re virtually guaranteed a history book that reads like a spy novel.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

“A tale of smarts, personal courage and—even knowing what happened on June 6, 1944—suspense. Where would we be if these troubled, eccentric, and hang-it-all characters hadn’t known how to lie, and lie well?”—The Seattle Times

When is the BBC going to do a Mini Series?

What made the experience of listening to Double Cross the most enjoyable?

You cannot make the characters in this book up. Well written, well read, and such an outrageous collection of characters, real people, eccentric people, brave men and women who played an important part in collecting and sending miss-information during WWII. I seriously wonder why this hasn't already been made into a mini-series.

The complete spy guide

The complete guide and story of British espionage in WW II. Including the Normandy Invasion.

Great book

Enjoyed the narration, especially as he puts on every American voice with his imitation of john Wayne!

156,000 men, 4 spies, and one dog.

What made the experience of listening to Double Cross the most enjoyable?

Most folks know the story or the D-day invasion. Probably all but the most studious of us have never heard of the back room intelligence that went into confounding Germany on that
longest of days.

Ben Macintyre's account is fantastic of the events leading up to, during and after the
invasion from small houses in England to MI-5 headquarters. I enjoyed this as much
as I did Operation Mincemeat, another one of Macintyre's books

What other book might you compare Double Cross to and why?

Operation Mincemeat.

What three words best describe John Lee’s performance?

I do enjoyed that it was read by a "reader" with an english accent.
Though it did have some draw backs.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There was the part at the end of the book where one of the control agents continues
to look for one of the spies long after the war.

Any additional comments?

I really wish that John Lee had just read the book and not tried to improvise
the "voices". Every American sounded like they were from Texas, the Russian accents
sound German sometimes and Polish at other times. Polish accents were a mis-mash.

Stunning recount of some amazing people

Absolutely loved this book and learned a lot about some very talented and daring people. what they did made a HUGE difference to Allied Forces in World War II. I'm humbled by what they accomplished for us all.