Agente

The first book of its kind, 'Agente' tells the remarkable stories of some of the bravest and most dangerous women who ever lived

Women volunteering to become secret agents or spies risk the same torture as men if caught, plus sexual violence. Many of their male colleagues mistrust them for 'emotional unreliability'. Some have indeed gone to bed with their captors, seeking leniency. Mathilde Carre was caught by the Abwehr in occupied France and betrayed everyone in her Resistance network to her new lover. At her trial, she said, 'Women do not have the same choices as men.' Yet female agents of SOE saved thousands of Allied soldiers' lives.

In the Comintern's 70-year war against the West, Moscow's many female agents seduced soldiers and politicians, got divorced and married following orders, financed revolutions and stole nuclear secrets – many settling in the countries they betrayed to avoid being shot on return to the USSR. This book records the lives of the 'agentes' and investigates the powerful motives that drove them to undertake such dangerous work – like patriotism, ideology, love and revenge.

About the Author

Douglas Boyd is a critically acclaimed author of both fiction and non-fiction. He was made an honorary ex-legionnaire by past and serving members of the Foreign Legion for his history of their unique army. Several of his books have been translated into 17 languages.