The Queen's Agent

Sir Francis Walsingham and the Rise of Espionage in Elizabethan England

De: John Cooper

Narrado por: James Adams

A captivating true story that chronicles the exploits of Sir Francis Walsingham - the first great English spymaster and the man who saved Elizabeth's regime and the country's independence. Elizabeth I came to the throne at a time of insecurity and unrest. Rivals threatened her reign; England was a Protestant island, isolated in a sea of Catholic countries. Spain plotted an invasion, but Elizabeth's Secretary, Sir Francis Walsingham, was prepared to do whatever it took to protect her. He ran a network of agents in England and Europe who provided him with information about invasions or assassination plots. He recruited likely young men and 'turned' others. He encouraged Elizabeth to make war against the Catholic Irish rebels, with extreme brutality, and oversaw the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. The Queen's Agent is a story of secret agents, cryptic codes and ingenious plots, set in a turbulent period of England's history. It is also the story of a man devoted to his queen, sacrificing his every waking hour to save the threatened English state.

©2012 John Cooper (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

This is alright.

Less a book about Walsingham and more a book about a time in which he lived. I was disappointed that I didn’t even get a sense of the rise of espionage. Still entertaining though.

Fascinating man

History out performs fiction in a narrative with just enough left unknown that the imagination goes wild with theories.

What a life

lovely book, well written and over all well read. The life of Sir Francis Walsingham is indeed one worth of a great book, for what a life he had. Worthy of praise, admiration and honor. My only wish is that the narrator would yawn less, if he's bored or tired go take a nap and come back. His constant yawning is very annoying and an insult for the writer, audience and for the man who's life he's relating.

Before there was Smiley,Bond, or Wild Bill

If you could sum up The Queen's Agent in three words, what would they be?

Sir Francis was devoted (to Queen Elizabeth I), driven (to protect her and England), and dedicated (to his Queen, his country, and his Reformed Christianity).

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Queen's Agent?

Sir Francis's exhaustive efforts to entrap Mary, Queen of Scots and to protect England from the Spanish Armada, despite his often ill health, Queen Elizabeth's frugality, and hesitation to strike against her fellow queen and cousin.

Which character – as performed by James Adams – was your favorite?

Duh! The subject of the biography.

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

The opening chapters described the horrific massacre of the French Huguenots. Sir Francis was in Paris at the time and witnessed the slaughter and fear of the French Protestants. His memory of this event coloured his subsequent actions.

Any additional comments?

James Adams narrated the book clearly. His voice conveyed the subtlest sarcasm and wit when appropriate. I would gladly listen to his narration again. There was a lot of information in the book - it is, perhaps, too "dense" to be an easy listen, but Mr Adam's narration, unlike some, did not lull the listener into a hypnotic fog.

Walsingham Facts

There is a lot of information in this book, but the narrative is stiff and not engaging.