{"title":"Books by David Tremain","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780750988957","title":"The Beautiful Spy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn September 1940 a beautiful young woman arrived by seaplane and rubber dinghy on the shores of Scotland accompanied by two men – one of Germany’s many attempt to penetrate British defences and infiltrate spies into the UK. \u003c\/b\u003eThis seems to be one of the few established facts in the otherwise mysterious tale of Vera Eriksen. Even the origins of the woman described as ‘the most beautiful spy’ remain hazy, as does her ultimate fate. David Tremain delves into the archives, and in doing so begins to reveal glimpses of her fascinating life story: her career as a dancer in Paris; a tumultuous and violent dalliance with a White Russian officer of uncertain identity; her time in England with the Duchesse de Château-Thierry, an Abwehr agent; the suspicious and untimely death of her husband, and a rumoured pregnancy. \u003ci\u003eThe Beautiful Spy\u003c\/i\u003e also grapples with perhaps the biggest mystery of all: what happened to Vera after she was released by the British?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56296878932341,"sku":"9780750988957","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780750988957_21b2ad50-2309-4bd8-a06c-a1810325893b.jpg?v=1786014554"},{"product_id":"9781803999845","title":"Double Agent Victoire","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMathilde Carré, notoriously known as La Chatte, was remarkable for all the wrong reasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e Like most spies she was temperamental, scheming and manipulative – but she was also treacherous. A dangerous mix, especially when combined with her infamous history of love affairs – on both sides.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHer acts of treachery were almost unprecedented in the history of intelligence, yet her involvement in the ‘Interallié affair’ has only warranted a brief mention in the accounts of special operations in France during the Second World War. But what motivated her to betray more than 100 members of the Interallié network, the largest spy network in France? Was she the only guilty party, or were others equally as culpable?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing on material from MI5 files, \u003cem\u003eDouble Agent Victoire\u003c\/em\u003e explores the events that led to her betrayal, who may have ‘cast the first stone’, and their motivations, as well as how the lives and careers of those involved were affected. It reveals a story full of intrigue, sex, betrayal and double-dealing, involving a rich cast including members of the French Resistance, German Abwehr and British Intelligence.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307442188661,"sku":"9781803999845","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781803999845_7a14331a-c615-4f25-97f8-306b2ee5684f.jpg?v=1786027482"},{"product_id":"9781399061094","title":"Double Agent Balloon","description":"Dickie Metcalfe was not your typical secret agent, but he was larger than life in more ways than one. Unlike many other agents who were part of the Double Cross System during the Second World War, he did not defect; nor was he blackmailed into becoming a spy. Instead, using his father's connection with Sir Vernon Kell, the first Director of MI5, Metcalfe volunteered his services.   Recently cashiered from his infantry regiment, he had an ulterior motive - by supplying MI5 with titbits of information about weapons and arms deals in his newfound profession as an arms dealer, he hoped they would be able to help him get his commission reinstated. Metcalfe became BALLOON, a sub-agent of double agent TRICYCLE's Yugoslav spy ring.   Concurrent with his spying activities, he collaborated with the co-inventor of the Bren gun to develop a new submachine gun for British forces. After the war, he was also a celebrated motor racing driver and continued to compete until shortly before his death. His success as a double-cross agent in the eyes of both his masters - British and German - is examined in this book, using official documents as a primary source.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56312265212277,"sku":"9781399061094","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399061094_b7861913-c477-4c49-8237-590860365a2e.jpg?v=1786019432"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-david-tremain.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}