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MI6
- Life and Death in the British Secret Service
- Narrated by: Gordon Corera
- Length: 15 hrs and 51 mins
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MI6
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Summary
The secret history of MI6 - from the Cold War to the present day.
The British Secret Service has been cloaked in secrecy and shrouded in myth since it was created 100 years ago. Our understanding of what it is to be a spy has been largely defined by the fictional worlds of James Bond and John le Carre. MI6 provides a unique and unprecedented insight into this secret world and the reality that lies behind the fiction. It tells the story of how the secret service has changed since the end of World War II and by focusing on the people and the relationships that lie at the heart of espionage, revealing the danger, the drama, the intrigue, the moral ambiguities and the occasional comedy that comes with working for British intelligence. From the defining period of the early Cold War through to the modern day, MI6 has undergone a dramatic transformation from a gung-ho, amateurish organisation to its modern, no less controversial, incarnation. Gordon Corera reveals the triumphs and disasters along the way.
The grand dramas of the Cold War and after - the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the 11 September 2001 attacks and the Iraq war - are the backdrop for the human stories of the individual spies whose stories form the centrepiece of the narrative. But some of the individuals featured here, in turn, helped shape the course of those events. Corera draws on the first-hand accounts of those who have spied, lied and in some cases nearly died in service of the state. They range from the spymasters to the agents they ran to their sworn enemies. Many of these accounts are based on exclusive interviews and access. From Afghanistan to the Congo, from Moscow to the back streets of London, these are the voices of those who have worked on the front line of Britain's secret wars. And the truth is often more remarkable than the fiction.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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What listeners say about MI6
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cf
- 15-12-21
Brilliant and well read
This is a great overview of MI6 from its conception to the 2010s. Full of interesting insights and interviews with key individuals.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Iris
- 19-10-21
Gripping
History told in such an enjoyable way. Factual and could relate to current affairs also. Highly recommend
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jen
- 29-05-22
A very quick overview
This audiobook is a very general summary and doesn’t provides much new information that hasn’t been written about many, many times. However, his delivery and writing are good- sound improved when paired with a speaker.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- GP
- 28-03-23
Disappointing
Mostly rehashed well known stories. Sounds like it’s recorded in a wardrobe - probably a Covid era recording, but would benefit from using egg boxes on the walls and ceiling.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Clay
- 20-04-21
Probably my favourite book.
This was such an interesting, insightful ride. I'm sure I'll listen to this multiple times.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Neil Green
- 25-12-21
Good history.
I found the most interesting part was about the Iraq war. But the whole book is very good covering the most interesting parts of the history. Well narrated.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 11-04-23
Informative and detailed
It provides an interesting insight into the what drives both traitors and patriots. We’ll Narrated
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- nicki
- 04-06-21
Last 2 hours are the best!!
Only take this on if you have a lot of spare time or a historian.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 23-11-21
Brilliant and thrilling stories
Great book but performance ruined somewhat by terrible sound quality.
Fascinating stories though which makes up for it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Demetri D
- 03-12-21
Fascinating and revealing insights
Anyone interested in the history of the last 100 years will find Corera’s reading of his own book fascinating and revealing.
He succeeds in engaging us in the sometimes incredibly fast pace where every minute is crucial, balanced with the tedium of decades spent manipulating and deceiving.
It also reveals a level of ingenuity and bravery beyond the fictional representations but helps to piece together where the fiction mirrors truth. The revealing elements are where the truth is more outrageous than the fiction!
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