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M: Maxwell Knight, MI5's Greatest Spymaster
Maxwell Knight was a paradox. A jazz obsessive and nature enthusiast (he is the author of the definitive work on how to look after a gorilla), he is seen today as one of MI5's greatest spymasters, a man who did more than any other to break up British fascism during the Second World War – in spite of having once belonged to the British Fascisti himself. He was known to his agents and colleagues simply as M, and was rumoured to be part of the inspiration for the character M in the James Bond series.
Knight became a legendary spymaster despite an almost total lack of qualifications. What set him apart from his peers was a mercurial ability to transform almost anyone into a fearless secret agent. He was the first in MI5 to grasp the potential of training female agents.
M is about more than just one man however. In its pages, Hemming reveals for the first time in print the names and stories of seven men and women recruited by Knight, on behalf of MI5, and then asked to infiltrate the most dangerous political organizations in Britain at that time. Until now, their identities have been kept secret outside MI5. Drawn from every walk of life, they led double lives—often at great personal cost—in order to protect the country they loved. With the publication of this book, it will be possible at last to celebrate the lives of these courageous, selfless individuals.
Drawing on declassified documents, private family archives and interviews with retired MI5 officers as well as the families of MI5 agents, M reveals not just the shadowy world of espionage but a brilliant, enigmatic man at its centre.
Knight became a legendary spymaster despite an almost total lack of qualifications. What set him apart from his peers was a mercurial ability to transform almost anyone into a fearless secret agent. He was the first in MI5 to grasp the potential of training female agents.
M is about more than just one man however. In its pages, Hemming reveals for the first time in print the names and stories of seven men and women recruited by Knight, on behalf of MI5, and then asked to infiltrate the most dangerous political organizations in Britain at that time. Until now, their identities have been kept secret outside MI5. Drawn from every walk of life, they led double lives—often at great personal cost—in order to protect the country they loved. With the publication of this book, it will be possible at last to celebrate the lives of these courageous, selfless individuals.
Drawing on declassified documents, private family archives and interviews with retired MI5 officers as well as the families of MI5 agents, M reveals not just the shadowy world of espionage but a brilliant, enigmatic man at its centre.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2017
139 people are currently reading
1659 people want to read
About the author
Henry Hemming
10 books108 followersHenry Hemming is the author of 7 works of non-fiction including the New York Times bestseller 'The Ingenious Mr Pyke', and the Sunday Times bestseller 'M'. He has written for publications including The Washington Post, The Sunday Times, The Economist and The Times, and lives in London with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 8, 2020
I requested this biography from Netgalley on an impulse and I do not regret it one bit. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed learning about Maxwell Knight and his agents
Full Disclosure: I do not read a lot of non-fiction in general and this was my first Historical Biography in a very long time which means I am an amateur reader of these kinds of books. I cannot compare it with similar efforts or confirm the accuracy of the facts so my opinion is mainly based on the enjoyment factor.
What made me read M was that the famous Bond character who seems to have been inspired by the spymaster and that Bridge of Lies screenwriter is planning to create a TV series based on this book which for me is a serious endorsement.
M starts with an incursion into Maxwell Knight’s childhood and his love for animals. Since he was a little boy, he kept adopting a wide range of wild animals and showed an extraordinary talent for earning their trust. Later, he would use this talent to recruit and manage spy agents. His first job as a spymaster was for a private intelligence agency in 1923 where he was told to infiltrate the British Fascisti. What I found interesting was that back then Fascisti were not considered evil. The movement started in UK as an opposition to Communism which was considered to be the greatest threat. This was not the only revelation for me; the pages were full of interesting and unexpected ins and outs of the spy world and not only, such as the fact that Mussolini worked for the British Intelligence for a short while. In the mid 1920’s Maxwell plays a double role as a member of Fascisti and spymaster for the Mi-5. His main focus was to infiltrate his agents in Communist organizations and he used agents from different kind of backgrounds. In addition, he was the first to successfully recruit women agents. His many years with the Fascisti and the friendship he had built with different members made him reluctant to investigate the movement when it was apparent that they became a threat. He manages to get past his personal bias (with some controversy) and is instrumental in eliminating the Fascist threat in the UK.
His sympathy for the Fascists, the lack of clear procedures and an appearance of amateurism makes it hard to believe he was really “the greatest spymaster”, as the title suggests. Still, without any doubt he possessed a rare talent to understand and gain respect of people which is a key asset for a successful spymaster.
The writing was engaging, in an investigative tone, and I was not bored for one second. The chapters are sprinkled with interesting trivia and compelling characters. I have to admit that the writing was uneven at times and some parts of M’s career were better developed than others. Sometimes, the side stories of the agents were more interesting than the main plot. I also believe that it might not be the book of choice for a serious historian and I find it better suited for amateur readers interested in spy stories, the history of the WWII and the Cold War.
PS. I also found out that Maxwell Knight was John le Carré’s spymaster and that one of the characters in a Perfect Spy is inspired by M.
Thanks to Henry Hemming, Random House UK, Cornerstone, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Full Disclosure: I do not read a lot of non-fiction in general and this was my first Historical Biography in a very long time which means I am an amateur reader of these kinds of books. I cannot compare it with similar efforts or confirm the accuracy of the facts so my opinion is mainly based on the enjoyment factor.
What made me read M was that the famous Bond character who seems to have been inspired by the spymaster and that Bridge of Lies screenwriter is planning to create a TV series based on this book which for me is a serious endorsement.
M starts with an incursion into Maxwell Knight’s childhood and his love for animals. Since he was a little boy, he kept adopting a wide range of wild animals and showed an extraordinary talent for earning their trust. Later, he would use this talent to recruit and manage spy agents. His first job as a spymaster was for a private intelligence agency in 1923 where he was told to infiltrate the British Fascisti. What I found interesting was that back then Fascisti were not considered evil. The movement started in UK as an opposition to Communism which was considered to be the greatest threat. This was not the only revelation for me; the pages were full of interesting and unexpected ins and outs of the spy world and not only, such as the fact that Mussolini worked for the British Intelligence for a short while. In the mid 1920’s Maxwell plays a double role as a member of Fascisti and spymaster for the Mi-5. His main focus was to infiltrate his agents in Communist organizations and he used agents from different kind of backgrounds. In addition, he was the first to successfully recruit women agents. His many years with the Fascisti and the friendship he had built with different members made him reluctant to investigate the movement when it was apparent that they became a threat. He manages to get past his personal bias (with some controversy) and is instrumental in eliminating the Fascist threat in the UK.
His sympathy for the Fascists, the lack of clear procedures and an appearance of amateurism makes it hard to believe he was really “the greatest spymaster”, as the title suggests. Still, without any doubt he possessed a rare talent to understand and gain respect of people which is a key asset for a successful spymaster.
The writing was engaging, in an investigative tone, and I was not bored for one second. The chapters are sprinkled with interesting trivia and compelling characters. I have to admit that the writing was uneven at times and some parts of M’s career were better developed than others. Sometimes, the side stories of the agents were more interesting than the main plot. I also believe that it might not be the book of choice for a serious historian and I find it better suited for amateur readers interested in spy stories, the history of the WWII and the Cold War.
PS. I also found out that Maxwell Knight was John le Carré’s spymaster and that one of the characters in a Perfect Spy is inspired by M.
Thanks to Henry Hemming, Random House UK, Cornerstone, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2017
Maxwell Knight was twenty three in 1923, a young man who was talent spotted at a meeting of the British Empire Union. The son of a spendthrift father, Knight had been given an allowance by his Uncle Robert. However, his uncle was less than forgiving of Knight’s life at that point and cut off his money. Knight was obsessed with animals and jazz and had been recently kicked out of the civil service. He was directionless when he was approached by Sir George Makgill at an exclusive gentlemen’s club and asked to join his intelligence agency. Makgill based this agency on his own fears and ambitions – his customers were mainly factory owners and industrialists – and he required secrecy and shared political views from his new agent. Knight was asked to infiltrate an organisation called British Fascisti and it was a task he threw himself into with gusto.
Much of this book takes place in the period between the wars; culminating in the early years of the Second World War. Although we do follow Knight’s life past this point, certainly the bulk of his life in the secret service took place during these years. In England, and in Europe, there were conflicting political views, with the rise of both communist, and fascist, parties. In the early years, Knight was learning the skills of espionage; firstly as a spy and then running agents and becoming a spymaster.
Through his early years investigating fascist groups, Knight met several men who he felt loyalty towards. One of them was William Joyce, who later became notorious as Lord Haw-Haw. His personal loyalties were obviously important to Knight and would cause him issues in later years, when he found conflict between his feelings towards people he knew personally and loyalty to his country. In his professional life he would be faced with difficult choices and dilemmas, which would also cause him to have to explain his actions.
Knight was a man who also had conflict in his personal life. Despite a spy (or spymaster) being someone you feel would relish anonymity; Knight actually seemed to relish standing out. He loved exotic pets, he published novels based on his own experiences and, when Makgill died, he was obviously keen to get back into the game of spying. When he was approached by MI6 to root out Russian espionage in 1929, he began to set up his own secret agent network. He always made himself available to his agents, but, although married three times, he kept secrets from his wives and failed to consummate his marriages (the reason for this is unclear, although the author puts forward theories).
Politically, it seems that Knight was more sympathetic to the right than the left. It was the Soviet menace which seemed the most dangerous to Knight in the early years. However, with the rise of fascism in Europe, gradually it dawned on Knight that fascism was more dangerous than communism. When war was declared, this led to him having to make some difficult decisions and taking risks. Certainly, he was very adept at what he did and it is fascinating to read of how he coaxed and persuaded and supported his agents, with immense patience and without pressure, to get results. This is a fascinating account of the early years of the intelligence service and how it evolved and of Maxwell Knight’s important part in it.
Much of this book takes place in the period between the wars; culminating in the early years of the Second World War. Although we do follow Knight’s life past this point, certainly the bulk of his life in the secret service took place during these years. In England, and in Europe, there were conflicting political views, with the rise of both communist, and fascist, parties. In the early years, Knight was learning the skills of espionage; firstly as a spy and then running agents and becoming a spymaster.
Through his early years investigating fascist groups, Knight met several men who he felt loyalty towards. One of them was William Joyce, who later became notorious as Lord Haw-Haw. His personal loyalties were obviously important to Knight and would cause him issues in later years, when he found conflict between his feelings towards people he knew personally and loyalty to his country. In his professional life he would be faced with difficult choices and dilemmas, which would also cause him to have to explain his actions.
Knight was a man who also had conflict in his personal life. Despite a spy (or spymaster) being someone you feel would relish anonymity; Knight actually seemed to relish standing out. He loved exotic pets, he published novels based on his own experiences and, when Makgill died, he was obviously keen to get back into the game of spying. When he was approached by MI6 to root out Russian espionage in 1929, he began to set up his own secret agent network. He always made himself available to his agents, but, although married three times, he kept secrets from his wives and failed to consummate his marriages (the reason for this is unclear, although the author puts forward theories).
Politically, it seems that Knight was more sympathetic to the right than the left. It was the Soviet menace which seemed the most dangerous to Knight in the early years. However, with the rise of fascism in Europe, gradually it dawned on Knight that fascism was more dangerous than communism. When war was declared, this led to him having to make some difficult decisions and taking risks. Certainly, he was very adept at what he did and it is fascinating to read of how he coaxed and persuaded and supported his agents, with immense patience and without pressure, to get results. This is a fascinating account of the early years of the intelligence service and how it evolved and of Maxwell Knight’s important part in it.
May 4, 2017
4.5 stars
Written with the kind of flair to which espionage thriller writers aspire, this entertaining and well researched investigation in to 'M' Maxwell Knight opens up the world of an MI5 spymaster. After reading the book, I'm not convinced by the appellation 'greatest' given in connection to the man; his personal desire for recognition frequently overcame the need for secrecy- not only did he tell people he worked in the business, he wrote novels using thinly disguised characters based on both the agents he was running and those they were investigating. There are more anecdotes that but I'll leave those for the reader to discover. Nevertheless, he had a genuine ability of running people, talent spotting, finding the means to infiltrate political groups, and ensuring a long term loyalty from agents. As a result, he was able to manage a large team that collected essential information from a variety of sources.
His life and work is interesting, of course, but the real value of this book for me is the way the changing political climate is interwoven in the tale- after all, it's this that determines who we are watching and why. Early in his career (1920s) Knight was sent into the British Fascisti movement, but not to bring them down... At this point, Communism was seen as the true evil and the red scare meant that few people in this book saw the far right as a threat until the mid-1930s. Certainly Knight took a lot of persuading to put as much effort into investigating Fascist groups, even after the significant revamping of the movement by Mosley. Considering what we know came after and the stunning rise of the far right now, it's hard reading.
All the big names of the period are here, there's political and espionage based manoeuvring, violence and subtlety, secret meetings and blatant lies. I've read fiction that isn't this exciting, but this is stuff that you can fact check. A genuinely thrilling read.
ARC via Netgalley
Written with the kind of flair to which espionage thriller writers aspire, this entertaining and well researched investigation in to 'M' Maxwell Knight opens up the world of an MI5 spymaster. After reading the book, I'm not convinced by the appellation 'greatest' given in connection to the man; his personal desire for recognition frequently overcame the need for secrecy- not only did he tell people he worked in the business, he wrote novels using thinly disguised characters based on both the agents he was running and those they were investigating. There are more anecdotes that but I'll leave those for the reader to discover. Nevertheless, he had a genuine ability of running people, talent spotting, finding the means to infiltrate political groups, and ensuring a long term loyalty from agents. As a result, he was able to manage a large team that collected essential information from a variety of sources.
His life and work is interesting, of course, but the real value of this book for me is the way the changing political climate is interwoven in the tale- after all, it's this that determines who we are watching and why. Early in his career (1920s) Knight was sent into the British Fascisti movement, but not to bring them down... At this point, Communism was seen as the true evil and the red scare meant that few people in this book saw the far right as a threat until the mid-1930s. Certainly Knight took a lot of persuading to put as much effort into investigating Fascist groups, even after the significant revamping of the movement by Mosley. Considering what we know came after and the stunning rise of the far right now, it's hard reading.
All the big names of the period are here, there's political and espionage based manoeuvring, violence and subtlety, secret meetings and blatant lies. I've read fiction that isn't this exciting, but this is stuff that you can fact check. A genuinely thrilling read.
ARC via Netgalley
July 10, 2020
Maxwell Knight was a rather unique man to begin with, eccentric in many ways with a bizarre affinity towards animals large and small.
Having, early on, displayed some innate character traits mandatory for becoming a spymaster, he seems to have fallen into the spy game almost by accident.
While Max’s prodigious accomplishments at MI5 cannot be denied I found a bit too much speculation by the author for my liking, notwithstanding the copious research he claims to have done.
I wavered between 2 & 3 stars but I enjoyed the book for the most part even though much remains a bit of a mystery regarding fact or supposition on the part of the author.
Having, early on, displayed some innate character traits mandatory for becoming a spymaster, he seems to have fallen into the spy game almost by accident.
While Max’s prodigious accomplishments at MI5 cannot be denied I found a bit too much speculation by the author for my liking, notwithstanding the copious research he claims to have done.
I wavered between 2 & 3 stars but I enjoyed the book for the most part even though much remains a bit of a mystery regarding fact or supposition on the part of the author.
February 17, 2018
Maxwell Knight wasn't the first "M" in Britain's MI5 (charged with counter-espionage at home), but he's the one on which Ian Flemming modeled his fictional "M" in the James Bond series. This account of his life, supposedly the first since declassification of most WWII and cold war files, tries to separate the man from the legend.
It does an excellent job explaining M's separate structure, not really reporting to MI5. Instead, Knight created his own fiefdom, run from his flat or a leased flat. If it was the former, agents were confronted with a zoo--Knight kept curious pets, from birds to monkeys to bears. Agents beware!
The book gets high marks for describing Knight's huge stable of agents and sub-handlers, the most famous of of which were M's long-time friend William Joyce and, later in his career, David Cornwell. M warned the former, the author claims, hours before he was to be interned as a Fascist Enemy of the State--Joyce escaped Berlin, where he re-invented himself as the smoothly effective Nazi propagandist Lord Haw-Haw. The latter took the pen name John Le Carré and went on to greater literary fame…
Also well laid-out are M's espionage triumphs, which often involved female agents, who he thought more trustworthy. That wasn't true for any of his three wives: It's unclear whether he consummated any of his marriages. Knight seemed to have a fear of sex (as opposed to being homosexual, like the famous Cambridge set.)
Yet that's the weakness of this book. Because Knight kept no diary, most everything about M as a human is MIA. Oh, sure, Hemming lists his exploits, but has a more difficult time unearthing the man behind the mask. The closest he comes is late in his career and after retirement, Knight published several popular zoology books, and appeared on BBC radio and TV frequently. But that was for money: early retirement due to health issues cost M his civil service pension.
So Knight could be avuncular. All his agents also said he gave each full attention and encouragement, despite running at least twice the normal stable of agents. But the "twentieth Century's finest Spymaster" left little traces of his true self. Which just shows how good Knight was. It's a shame Hemming couldn't find more about this fascinating man.
Added Sept. 28:
Link to review in "The Weekly Standard", which provides a better flavor of the "Was he a Fascist or a Patriot"? theme:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-spy...
It does an excellent job explaining M's separate structure, not really reporting to MI5. Instead, Knight created his own fiefdom, run from his flat or a leased flat. If it was the former, agents were confronted with a zoo--Knight kept curious pets, from birds to monkeys to bears. Agents beware!
The book gets high marks for describing Knight's huge stable of agents and sub-handlers, the most famous of of which were M's long-time friend William Joyce and, later in his career, David Cornwell. M warned the former, the author claims, hours before he was to be interned as a Fascist Enemy of the State--Joyce escaped Berlin, where he re-invented himself as the smoothly effective Nazi propagandist Lord Haw-Haw. The latter took the pen name John Le Carré and went on to greater literary fame…
Also well laid-out are M's espionage triumphs, which often involved female agents, who he thought more trustworthy. That wasn't true for any of his three wives: It's unclear whether he consummated any of his marriages. Knight seemed to have a fear of sex (as opposed to being homosexual, like the famous Cambridge set.)
Yet that's the weakness of this book. Because Knight kept no diary, most everything about M as a human is MIA. Oh, sure, Hemming lists his exploits, but has a more difficult time unearthing the man behind the mask. The closest he comes is late in his career and after retirement, Knight published several popular zoology books, and appeared on BBC radio and TV frequently. But that was for money: early retirement due to health issues cost M his civil service pension.
So Knight could be avuncular. All his agents also said he gave each full attention and encouragement, despite running at least twice the normal stable of agents. But the "twentieth Century's finest Spymaster" left little traces of his true self. Which just shows how good Knight was. It's a shame Hemming couldn't find more about this fascinating man.
Added Sept. 28:
Link to review in "The Weekly Standard", which provides a better flavor of the "Was he a Fascist or a Patriot"? theme:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-spy...
June 30, 2017
Fascinating espionage history
Henry Hemmings has put together the fascinated story of the legendary “M”. A complex individual who flirted with Fascism, an expert in animals and a pub landlord, but most famous for his espionage career.
Hemming weaves a story that’s as good as a novel. This isn’t a dry read, but an entertainingly put together story of the early days of British espionage against communist infiltration and it’s swing towards concentrating on fascism as Hitler rises to power.
Some great nuggets in here and well worth a read.
I received this book free from Netgalley and was not required to write a positive review.
Henry Hemmings has put together the fascinated story of the legendary “M”. A complex individual who flirted with Fascism, an expert in animals and a pub landlord, but most famous for his espionage career.
Hemming weaves a story that’s as good as a novel. This isn’t a dry read, but an entertainingly put together story of the early days of British espionage against communist infiltration and it’s swing towards concentrating on fascism as Hitler rises to power.
Some great nuggets in here and well worth a read.
I received this book free from Netgalley and was not required to write a positive review.
January 19, 2019
A shockingly sedate and tedious biography given Maxwell Knight’s extraordinary achievements and the real perils of espionage.
Whilst this is evidently well researched, it’s just as equally clear that Hemming hasn’t been entirely discriminating with that research. The biography lacks economy which made this a real slog; I was skim reading from the halfway mark. The crude and piecemeal writing compromised the authority of the material, especially where the book skews into a shade of free indirect style, speculating in digressive and fanciful ways how each agent reacted to recruitment etc. At these times, the biography reads like a bad thriller. A thriller that fails to thrill.
I did however thoroughly appreciate the time dedicated to championing the female agents who rejected ‘the Mata Hari approach’, women who possessed admirable qualities (intelligence, reasoning, courage, discretion) rather than relying on their sex appeal to lend them agency. More importantly, Maxwell Knight recognised these qualities and advocated them, as he did with the incredible Olga Gray. You can’t end wars with your face.
Ultimately this was a less than compelling look into British Fascism rather than gritty espionage that turned the tide of the war. Surprisingly, it didn’t offer any particular insight into Maxwell Knight himself, either. Interesting in some facets but repetitious, expounding and not entirely commanding.
Whilst this is evidently well researched, it’s just as equally clear that Hemming hasn’t been entirely discriminating with that research. The biography lacks economy which made this a real slog; I was skim reading from the halfway mark. The crude and piecemeal writing compromised the authority of the material, especially where the book skews into a shade of free indirect style, speculating in digressive and fanciful ways how each agent reacted to recruitment etc. At these times, the biography reads like a bad thriller. A thriller that fails to thrill.
I did however thoroughly appreciate the time dedicated to championing the female agents who rejected ‘the Mata Hari approach’, women who possessed admirable qualities (intelligence, reasoning, courage, discretion) rather than relying on their sex appeal to lend them agency. More importantly, Maxwell Knight recognised these qualities and advocated them, as he did with the incredible Olga Gray. You can’t end wars with your face.
Ultimately this was a less than compelling look into British Fascism rather than gritty espionage that turned the tide of the war. Surprisingly, it didn’t offer any particular insight into Maxwell Knight himself, either. Interesting in some facets but repetitious, expounding and not entirely commanding.
April 27, 2017
This was an unexpected treat. A beautifully written and forensically researched account of on of M15's great spymasters, Maxwell Knight. He was a wonderful British eccentric and true polymath who also became a noted writer and broadcaster and an animal collector.
He overcame a mixed, confused and conflicted political background and specialised in infiltrating hard left and right groups in the confused years leading up to World War 11 and gleaned much vital information. He had a gift for recruiting and running agents and the book outlines many of the espionage cuops he was responsible for as well as his friendship with William Joyce.
I learned much and was royally entertained.
He overcame a mixed, confused and conflicted political background and specialised in infiltrating hard left and right groups in the confused years leading up to World War 11 and gleaned much vital information. He had a gift for recruiting and running agents and the book outlines many of the espionage cuops he was responsible for as well as his friendship with William Joyce.
I learned much and was royally entertained.
wish-list
May 3, 2017
May 16, 2020
An insightful biography that explores the true world of espionage during the early twentieth century. A fascinating account of a man who, despite his flaws, was highly influential to the progress of MI5.
August 7, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable book. Y'know.
May 27, 2019
Maxwell Knight was a famous British naturalist (he even appeared on the BBC) but unbeknownst to most people, he was also a spymaster in the MI5. And not just any spymaster but perhaps the most important ones in bringing down fascism in Britain during World War 2.
This book goes through Maxwell Knight's life, from his early childhood years, his brief stint in the naval reserves (I think?), to games teacher (is this like a PE teacher? unclear), to part-time/volunteer spy for the McGill organization, briefly MI6 agent, and then his illustrious career as an MI5 officer.
"M", as he was known in MI5, loved animals and spent much time caring for his menagerie. It was this experience that helped him teach himself to be a spymaster who was masterful at managing his numerous agents, teaching them to be patient and to just "trail their coat". He was also one of the first officers to employ a large number of female spies.
This book was longer than some of the other audiobooks I've listened to, but because the material is fascinating, it doesn't feel like a slog. The author reads the audiobook (delightful!) and the descriptions are so vivid that I can just picture the scenes in my head. I liked this book so much, I listened to it twice in a row.
This book goes through Maxwell Knight's life, from his early childhood years, his brief stint in the naval reserves (I think?), to games teacher (is this like a PE teacher? unclear), to part-time/volunteer spy for the McGill organization, briefly MI6 agent, and then his illustrious career as an MI5 officer.
"M", as he was known in MI5, loved animals and spent much time caring for his menagerie. It was this experience that helped him teach himself to be a spymaster who was masterful at managing his numerous agents, teaching them to be patient and to just "trail their coat". He was also one of the first officers to employ a large number of female spies.
This book was longer than some of the other audiobooks I've listened to, but because the material is fascinating, it doesn't feel like a slog. The author reads the audiobook (delightful!) and the descriptions are so vivid that I can just picture the scenes in my head. I liked this book so much, I listened to it twice in a row.
May 15, 2017
M is a great insight into the lives of Maxwell Knight and his network of spies during the turbulent 30s and 40s. Really well researched and written, it is a very good book for anyone interested in the ins and outs of the spionage world and the Facist and Communist movements before and during WWII.
M himself was a very interesting and conflicting character, I found myself searching the web for photos - trying to put a face to name, not only to his name but also all the ones around him.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
M himself was a very interesting and conflicting character, I found myself searching the web for photos - trying to put a face to name, not only to his name but also all the ones around him.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
June 14, 2019
An excellent read for those interested in spy craft during the rise of the communist and fascist movement in Britain pre- and during WWII. The Spymaster who is the subject of this work, Maxwell Knight was a fascist in his youth, and a close friend of William Joyce and many others on the extreme right. More comfortable with his menagerie of pets, than with his wives, Knight became a recognised and well-known Naturalist whilst still running an MI5 Section. He did more than anyone to destroy the nascent fascist movement in Britain, and curtail communist espionage.
May 18, 2017
A delightful read. Great research, nicely paced. I thoroughly enjoyed his previous work on Geoffrey Pyke, and this book is in the same mould, but with a more important character. Clearly, in one sense the material on the man, with so many of his colleagues and contemporaries gone, is tin, but by and large this doesn't show through. Thoroughly recommended.
December 30, 2017
Interesting and very accessible biography of exactly the kind of person one likes to imagine running bits of the British Secret Service. Efficient runner of agents and eccentric collector of animals; M seems almost too good to be true.
May 27, 2017
Well-written book, based on lots of research; fascinating biography of a major spymaster in UL's MI5.
February 3, 2018
A fantastic biography of one of MI5's greatest spymasters.
More gripping than any spy novel you'll read!
More gripping than any spy novel you'll read!
September 17, 2022
If you've read a Le Carre or watched a Bond film, you probably think you already have a clear handle on who M was – the mysterious head of a section at MI5.
You don't.
For a start, Control (Le Carre's head of section) isn't based on this M, and while Ian Flemming's M has the right name, he's based on someone else entirely.
The real M, or Maxwell Knight as his parents called him, was in fact a curious oddball of a man who started out supporting fascists and then brought their entire movement down.
He also loved animals.
I mean, REALLY loved them. Had a house full.
Through painstaking research, Hemming brings this mysterious, conflicted, human being to life in a way that stays just the right side of dry.
There are a lot of facts to digest here, and a hell of a lot of names, but Hemming manages to keep you gripped by spinning a spy tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
From infiltrating both fascist and communist groups to foiling major espionage plots, M was at the forefront of Britain's fledgling security operation – and regardless of your views of spys, spying, and a man who kept an elk hound in the same flat as an ever decreasing number of rabbits, Hemming brings a shadowy figure to life in a way that leaves you quietly respecting him.
You don't.
For a start, Control (Le Carre's head of section) isn't based on this M, and while Ian Flemming's M has the right name, he's based on someone else entirely.
The real M, or Maxwell Knight as his parents called him, was in fact a curious oddball of a man who started out supporting fascists and then brought their entire movement down.
He also loved animals.
I mean, REALLY loved them. Had a house full.
Through painstaking research, Hemming brings this mysterious, conflicted, human being to life in a way that stays just the right side of dry.
There are a lot of facts to digest here, and a hell of a lot of names, but Hemming manages to keep you gripped by spinning a spy tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
From infiltrating both fascist and communist groups to foiling major espionage plots, M was at the forefront of Britain's fledgling security operation – and regardless of your views of spys, spying, and a man who kept an elk hound in the same flat as an ever decreasing number of rabbits, Hemming brings a shadowy figure to life in a way that leaves you quietly respecting him.
December 30, 2018
Wauw! Wat een goed geschreven boek. Klopt door de opbouw vanaf de eerste pagina tot de laatste. Een grote hoeveelheid personages betrokken, maar dusdanig duidelijk en gedetailleerd geschreven dat er geen onduidelijkheden mogelijk zijn!
September 3, 2020
I enjoyed this biography enormously. It reads like the best spy thriller fiction, particularly the work of John Le Carre whose personal knowledge about the system comes from having worked as an agent under Maxwell Knight (he was then John Cornwall). If you're interested in 20th-century history - the lead-up to and inclusion of WWII and the Cold War (or spy thriller enthusiasts!) - I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
September 13, 2023
Well researched book about actual spies
May 18, 2017
I received a free advance copy of this work through netgalley and Random House UK in return for an honest, unbiased review)
Henry Hemming presents a unique portrait of the man reputed to be part of the inspiration for the famous "M" in Ian Fleming's James Bond. Charles Henry Maxwell Knight began as a boy whose main interest was in animals, gathering a small, exotic menagerie of pets, an interest (and a habit) he would maintain all his life. Indeed, in his final years he would even work with David Attenborough. He would also write several (poor) pulp spy novels and a number of works on animals. He was briefly a pub landlord. But his main contribution was his long association with various intelligence agencies both private and official. Eventually he would run his own spy ring, the so-called "M-Division of MI5, which would provide vital intelligence for the British Government during the Second World War and the Cold War. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his life and work was his relationship with the fascist activist William Joyce, better known as the infamous Lord Haw-Haw.
It was a complex relationship, Joyce's first wife was even Knight's former fiancée. Part friendship, part trust, part suspicion, part grudging respect. Indeed, it illuminates one of the most difficult-to-assess aspects of M's career, his long and close involvement with the British fascist movements. Maxwell Knight cut his teeth infiltrating the British Fascisti (BF), an early right-wing organisation that emerged between the wars, and really before there was any clear fascist ideology or idea of what fascist even meant aside from opposition to the spectre of a worldwide communist revolution. Maxwell Knight was certainly more suspicious of communist groups than proto-fascist groups, a fact that was true of many of his contemporaries even after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. The history of British Fascism is difficult to pin down. It is certainly true to say that the ideals of the BF bore little resemblance to the fascism which would later claw its way across Europe, indeed the original BF would reflect a proposal to join Mosley's more recognisable Blackshirts.
By the time Moseley (with funding from Mussolini) was pursuing his ultimately doomed attempts to create a worthwhile Fascist party in Britain the establishment was growing increasingly uneasy with their movements and, in particular, their relationship with the Fascist parties in Italy and Germany. As the focus switched from communist to fascism M-division garnered intelligence by infiltrating potential fifth-column fascist groups. This switch in official policy makes it easy to assume that Knight had no real connection with the far right but this would be a gross simplification. A potential sympathy with the far right doesn't make M unique, or even unusual, among his contemporaries but while Hemming tentatively touches on the personal leanings of his leading man, hinting at some measure of genuine sympathy he doesn't tackle this issue with any particular focus or insight. The present climate in which alt-right represent a newly "socially acceptable" face of modern fascism even tentative apologism is a little unpalatable and the failure to deal directly with this issue is a considerable weakness in Hemming's work.
His focus is also unclear in other areas. Though Knight's early career was as a spy himself his main contribution was in recruiting and managing his own spy ring, placing him often on the periphery of the action. Knight becomes less and less the focus as his Hemming delves into the lives of his spies, particularly Olga Gray. His role and character become indistinct and hers (as well as those of her fellow spies) is never quite given the attention it deserves resulting in a feeling of superficiality that isn't entirely deserved. There is some impressive scholarship here and Hemming's research appears thorough and exhaustive, presenting the identities of several of M's agents for the first time. Unfortunately, there are certainly many "may have been"s and qualifiers that make the whole project uncertain and tentative. Definitely readable and Hemming's experience as a screen writer very clear with a keen eye for a powerful scene and an apt quote but it is also uneven and not entirely convincing. Perhaps not for the serious historian but it is an evocative, if flawed, glimpse into the life of an enigmatic character.
Henry Hemming presents a unique portrait of the man reputed to be part of the inspiration for the famous "M" in Ian Fleming's James Bond. Charles Henry Maxwell Knight began as a boy whose main interest was in animals, gathering a small, exotic menagerie of pets, an interest (and a habit) he would maintain all his life. Indeed, in his final years he would even work with David Attenborough. He would also write several (poor) pulp spy novels and a number of works on animals. He was briefly a pub landlord. But his main contribution was his long association with various intelligence agencies both private and official. Eventually he would run his own spy ring, the so-called "M-Division of MI5, which would provide vital intelligence for the British Government during the Second World War and the Cold War. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his life and work was his relationship with the fascist activist William Joyce, better known as the infamous Lord Haw-Haw.
It was a complex relationship, Joyce's first wife was even Knight's former fiancée. Part friendship, part trust, part suspicion, part grudging respect. Indeed, it illuminates one of the most difficult-to-assess aspects of M's career, his long and close involvement with the British fascist movements. Maxwell Knight cut his teeth infiltrating the British Fascisti (BF), an early right-wing organisation that emerged between the wars, and really before there was any clear fascist ideology or idea of what fascist even meant aside from opposition to the spectre of a worldwide communist revolution. Maxwell Knight was certainly more suspicious of communist groups than proto-fascist groups, a fact that was true of many of his contemporaries even after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. The history of British Fascism is difficult to pin down. It is certainly true to say that the ideals of the BF bore little resemblance to the fascism which would later claw its way across Europe, indeed the original BF would reflect a proposal to join Mosley's more recognisable Blackshirts.
By the time Moseley (with funding from Mussolini) was pursuing his ultimately doomed attempts to create a worthwhile Fascist party in Britain the establishment was growing increasingly uneasy with their movements and, in particular, their relationship with the Fascist parties in Italy and Germany. As the focus switched from communist to fascism M-division garnered intelligence by infiltrating potential fifth-column fascist groups. This switch in official policy makes it easy to assume that Knight had no real connection with the far right but this would be a gross simplification. A potential sympathy with the far right doesn't make M unique, or even unusual, among his contemporaries but while Hemming tentatively touches on the personal leanings of his leading man, hinting at some measure of genuine sympathy he doesn't tackle this issue with any particular focus or insight. The present climate in which alt-right represent a newly "socially acceptable" face of modern fascism even tentative apologism is a little unpalatable and the failure to deal directly with this issue is a considerable weakness in Hemming's work.
His focus is also unclear in other areas. Though Knight's early career was as a spy himself his main contribution was in recruiting and managing his own spy ring, placing him often on the periphery of the action. Knight becomes less and less the focus as his Hemming delves into the lives of his spies, particularly Olga Gray. His role and character become indistinct and hers (as well as those of her fellow spies) is never quite given the attention it deserves resulting in a feeling of superficiality that isn't entirely deserved. There is some impressive scholarship here and Hemming's research appears thorough and exhaustive, presenting the identities of several of M's agents for the first time. Unfortunately, there are certainly many "may have been"s and qualifiers that make the whole project uncertain and tentative. Definitely readable and Hemming's experience as a screen writer very clear with a keen eye for a powerful scene and an apt quote but it is also uneven and not entirely convincing. Perhaps not for the serious historian but it is an evocative, if flawed, glimpse into the life of an enigmatic character.
June 5, 2017
The book follows the counter-intelligence career of Maxwell Knight in Britain's MI5 from 1931 to 1961. His specialty was in identifying and running agents, many of whom were required to penetrate organizations within Britain posing a threat to security. The potential threats came primarily from Communist organizations and, as WWII approached, fascist organizations whose anti-communist ardor eventually led some of them to sympathize with Nazi Germany. Knight, himself, had begun his career by penetrating the British Union of Fascists in order to provide intelligence to a wealthy, patriotic industrialist. He was so successful in his efforts that he was placed in charge of intelligence for the BUF itself, participating in disruption efforts of Communist meetings and operations. After Knight moved to MI5, Oswald Mosley took over leadership of the BUF and moved it into closer ties with Hitler's Germany.
The book describes both the operations of MI5 to destroy spying operations against Britain and some of the many agents who did this work. Several of these agents were women, as Knight broke the hiring pattern in the intelligence agencies of the time. The most interesting character is Knight, who from childhood was a naturalist interested in all types of wildlife. His fieldwork techniques came to guide his work as spy and spymaster; all require skill as a watcher. When he retired from government service he returned to his avocation, serving as a BBC broadcaster on a number of radio and television nature programs, and as a compelling writer on nature.
Hemming is even-handed in his narrative, noting that some of the techniques Knight and his agents employed might be questioned legally and ethically, but weighs this against the threats to
Britain's security in war and peacetime against ideological opponents.
Overall, the book is interesting, readable, and informative.
The book describes both the operations of MI5 to destroy spying operations against Britain and some of the many agents who did this work. Several of these agents were women, as Knight broke the hiring pattern in the intelligence agencies of the time. The most interesting character is Knight, who from childhood was a naturalist interested in all types of wildlife. His fieldwork techniques came to guide his work as spy and spymaster; all require skill as a watcher. When he retired from government service he returned to his avocation, serving as a BBC broadcaster on a number of radio and television nature programs, and as a compelling writer on nature.
Hemming is even-handed in his narrative, noting that some of the techniques Knight and his agents employed might be questioned legally and ethically, but weighs this against the threats to
Britain's security in war and peacetime against ideological opponents.
Overall, the book is interesting, readable, and informative.
February 28, 2018
This was an utterly fascinating book, telling the story of Maxwell Knight, one of MI5’s first spymasters. Knight starts out as a disowned, disaffected prep school PE teacher, when he is approached by an industrialist who wanted him to work for his private intelligence agency to infiltrate a British group of fascists (this is way before WWII). Knight infiltrates the group, becoming friends with their members. Later Knight moves to MI5, running his own agents against the Communists and the Fascists in the run up to the war. The events of the interwar years were fascinating, it wasn’t an era that I knew that much about and it was interesting, with the benefit of hindsight, to see how for a lot of those years the government and security services were more worried about the Russians than the rise of Fascism in Europe. Knight himself, having spent some years himself within the British Fascist movement, struggled, at first, to see their threat, so when it became apparent that he needed to act against them, there had to be a degree of personal, internal change. The book covers the war itself plus the agents that Knight ran, as well as his personal life. Knight himself, was a fascinating man, as well as being a self taught spymaster, he was a keen naturalist, with many strange and exotic pets. I think that it’s fascinating that in his later years, in the 1950s and 60s, Maxwell Knight was a well known radio and TV personality, presenting programmes about animals and writing many books, for some of those years, combining it with his career at MI5. I can imagine that the average school boy, watching or listening to him in the 50s or 60s would have never have dreamt about what Knight’s other career was. The whole book would make a fantastic TV miniseries.
February 20, 2018
What a thoroughly well written and engaging book. Henry Hemming catalogues the fascinating life of Maxwell Knight, who witnesses the emergence of communism and fascism during the 20s & 30s. Knight, or M as we shall call him, works tirelessly to protect Britain against enemies of the State, both foreign and domestic, but at the same time battles with his own political bias as well as the pull of loyalty to his friends. The role played by lowly paid, quite ordinary but exceptionally brave individuals, who infiltrate communist and fascist organisations is humbling. The real names of these spies has obviously been a closely guarded secret for many years. Even now many are still not known to the public. Mr Hemming does a great job to research and reveal the identity of several of these heroic men and women. As well as gaining an insight into our eponymous spymaster and his agents, Hemming also documents how the opposing ideologies of communism and fascism impacted politics in pre-war Britain and we get glimpses of how our country flirted with these political extremes. As we enter the era of World War II, the significant role played by M section to minimise threats from foreign aggressors as well as disloyal elements within Britain, becomes clear. This is a compelling part of our history and Mr Hemming brings it to life in a masterful way. I look forward to his next project.
May 18, 2019
Maxwell Knight joined MI5. Britain's counter espionage intelligence service in 1931. whilst there he infiltrated with the help of his agents the British Communist party and the British Union of fascists, By doing this he was able to monitor the movements and the key players within them. Later, he was involved in the detection and arrest of the American cipher clerk, Tyler Kent who passed secrets to the Germans. Knight used agents from all sections of British Society, indeed, Knight was one of the first to use female agents on a regular basis as he felt there discretion and intuition could save a lot of valuable time. Retiring early from MI5 in 1961 on health grounds (he suffered with angina), he emerged from the shadows to become a well-known writer and broadcaster specialising in animals, birds and the natural environment. He had, in fact started his broadcasting and writing career whilst still an officer at MI5.
Henry Hemming's book is excellent. I found it to be a very enjoyable engaging listen and read it describes the life of one of Britain's key intelligence officers, Maxwell Knight, who during his 30 year career worked to to keep the country safe. If like me, you are interested in the shadowy world of intelligence and the people involved in it then this is a must read.
Henry Hemming's book is excellent. I found it to be a very enjoyable engaging listen and read it describes the life of one of Britain's key intelligence officers, Maxwell Knight, who during his 30 year career worked to to keep the country safe. If like me, you are interested in the shadowy world of intelligence and the people involved in it then this is a must read.
June 23, 2017
I received a copy of this book from one of the giveaways here on Goodreads, and was looking forward to reading it when it arrived. Once I started, it did a great job of pulling me into the story, and adding some historical details to events I had learned about in school, and in my own reading in the years since. I was glad to see that, despite it's references to M from the James Bond novels/movies, this wasn't a shoot-em-up spy story. It came across as a much more realistic (in my mind, anyway) depiction of a quiet man who served his nation during trying times, while not sugarcoating the reasons for his service. Like most men who lead, Maxwell Knight wasn't a black and white sort of person.....like all of us, he was made up of various shades of gray, and Mr Hemmings did an admirable job of showing us all of those shades, and providing me with a new viewpoint into an important part of history during the 20th century. I'm glad to have a copy of this book, I'm glad I got a chance to read it, and I guarantee this will be a book in my collection that will get read multiple times in the years to come.
July 25, 2018
I did not know a lot about the history of spying and counter-intelligence in the UK prior to reading this book. Thankfully, the author does a great job setting up the background and context in which Maxwell Knight operated. This was a very enjoyable non-fiction reading experience which included historical and biographical
elements.
Despite the introduction of a lot of different names and insititutions, it was never confusing and was interesting until the end. This was mainly due to the author doing a great job of characterising Maxwell Knight and some of his colleague. As a woman, I particularly enjoyed reading about the work and successes of Olga Grey and other female spies who I had never heard of before. Additionally, the book emphasizes the difficulties faced by secret agents during as well as after their assignments. The world of James Bond is here given a less glamorous and more realistic tint ehich is very refreshing.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone interested in learning more about MI5 and the concepts of "spying" and being a secret agent in general. It
elements.
Despite the introduction of a lot of different names and insititutions, it was never confusing and was interesting until the end. This was mainly due to the author doing a great job of characterising Maxwell Knight and some of his colleague. As a woman, I particularly enjoyed reading about the work and successes of Olga Grey and other female spies who I had never heard of before. Additionally, the book emphasizes the difficulties faced by secret agents during as well as after their assignments. The world of James Bond is here given a less glamorous and more realistic tint ehich is very refreshing.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone interested in learning more about MI5 and the concepts of "spying" and being a secret agent in general. It
April 1, 2018
I have to say that usually I am not interested in spy’s or espionage and the Cold War and all that, but recently I have suddenly caught that itch and have read books by Mick Herron and the father of all spy stories apart from Fleming John Le Carre. This book isn’t a fiction though it may sound like it from its premise it’s about a boy who has a gift in helping and looking after animals who then becomes MI5’s greatest spymaster and from all that you can see why I was hooked.
This book does not disappoint and it’s not because of who it’s about I mean the guy is fascinating Mr Maxwell Knight and intriguing and just like a fictional character come to life M may spring to mind from James Bond.
It’s how it’s written and from page one I was hooked gripped and fascinated in equal measures. I don’t understand why we have this love of fiction spy stories and yet when it comes to people who do this for their life and death we shun them and ignore what sacrifices they have to make. I have got a bit of an understanding and insight into one amazing and fascinating individual.
This book does not disappoint and it’s not because of who it’s about I mean the guy is fascinating Mr Maxwell Knight and intriguing and just like a fictional character come to life M may spring to mind from James Bond.
It’s how it’s written and from page one I was hooked gripped and fascinated in equal measures. I don’t understand why we have this love of fiction spy stories and yet when it comes to people who do this for their life and death we shun them and ignore what sacrifices they have to make. I have got a bit of an understanding and insight into one amazing and fascinating individual.
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