Klop by Peter Day
Klop Ustinov was Britain's most ingenious secret agent, but he wasn't authorised to kill. Instead, he was authorised to tell tall tales, bemusing and beguiling his enemies into revealing their deepest, darkest secrets. From the Russian Revolution to the Cold War, he bluffed and tricked his way into the confidence of everyone from Soviet commissars to Gestapo Gruppenfuhrer. In Klop: Britain's Most Ingenious Secret Agent, journalist Peter Day brings to life a man descended from Russian aristocrats and Ethiopian princesses but who fancied himself the perfect Englishman. His codename was U35 but his better-known nickname 'Klop' meant 'bedbug', a name given to him by a very understanding wife on account of his extraordinary capacity to hop from one woman's bed to another in the service of the King. Frequenting the social gatherings of Europe in the guise of innocent bon viveur, he displayed a showman's talent for entertaining (a trait his son, the actor Peter Ustinov, undoubtedly inherited), holding a captive audience and all the while scavenging secrets from his unsuspecting companions. Klop was masterful at gathering truth by telling a story; this is his.
"Day offers a vivid, richly researched and highly entertaining portrait of this most colourful of 20th-Century spooks" Christopher Hart, Sunday Times "4/5 for Day's readable narrative" The Telegraph "4/5 A fascinating behind-the-scenes account of World War II and the Cold War... Using anecdotes and first-hand accounts, it brings the palpable fear of wartime espionage to life - This thoroughly well-researched book is an excellent addition to the history of the Cold War and will fascinate anyone interested in real-life stories of secret agents, conspiracy, defectors, and top secret intelligence." Daily Express "Day has written a richly researched portrait of this most wonderful of all 20th-century spooks." Catholic Herald "What a great book. I am holding it all day in my arms where ever I go, like a new born baby. Thank you for having restored to him the life he deserves." Igor Ustinov "By their very nature all spy stories are extraordinary, but this particular tale certainly surpasses them all!" Britain At War
Peter Day has forty years' experience in journalism, including more than a decade as a senior reporter and newsdesk executive for the Mail on Sunday. Since turning freelance he has specialised in archive research, breaking exclusive stories on politics, royalty, military history and espionage. His previous book, Franco's Friends, was published by Biteback in 2011.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781849546935 |
| ISBN 10 | 1849546932 |
| Title | Klop |
| Author | Peter Day |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Biteback Publishing |
| Year published | 2014-06-23 |
| Number of pages | 352 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |