Queen of Spies, Paddy Hayes
Queen of Spies, Paddy Hayes
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
Club: $11.47

Queen of Spies
Daphne Park, Britain’s Cold War Spy Master

Author: Paddy Hayes

Narrator: Elizabeth Jasicki

Unabridged: 17 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/09/2018


Synopsis

The true story of Daphne Park, the female British secret intelligence officer who rose through the male-dominated ranks to become the Queen of SpiesFrom living in a tin-roofed shack north of Dar es Salaam to becoming Baroness Park of Monmouth, Daphne Park led a most unusual life―one that consisted of a lifelong love affair with the world of Britain’s secret services. In the 1970s, she was appointed to Secret Intelligence Service’s most senior operational rank as one of its seven area controllers―an extraordinary achievement for a woman working within this most male-dominated and secretive of organizations.In Queen of Spies Paddy Hayes recounts the fascinating story of the evolution of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) from World War II to the Cold War through the eyes of Daphne Park, one of its outstanding and most unusual operatives. He provides the reader with one of the most intimate narratives yet of how the modern SIS actually went about its business—whether in Moscow, Hanoi, or the Congo—and shows how Park was able to rise through the ranks of a field that had been comprised almost entirely of men.Queen of Spies captures all the paranoia, isolation, and deception of Cold War intelligence work and combines it with the personal story of one extraordinary woman trying to navigate this secretive world. Hayes unveils all that it may be possible to know about the life of one of Britain’s most celebrated spies.

About Paddy Hayes

Paddy Hayes was born in Cork, Ireland, and educated at Harvard University. He has spent five decades researching the world of intelligence. His interest in politics extends to acting as a constituency director of elections in the last two general elections in Ireland.

About Elizabeth Jasicki

Elizabeth Jasicki is an actress, voice-over artist, and audiobook narrator. She is known for her role in the film Merry Christmas and her performance in the critically acclaimed video game Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony.


Reviews

I was intrigued by this book and was very interested in learning more about Daphne Park, the Queen of Spies. This book is great if you need it as a source to write a reference paper, but as far as an enjoyable read, it is quite dry. There was a lot of excellent work in research into Daphne's life and......more

Goodreads review by Natali

A most enjoyable read. First, is the insight into how intelligence agencies go about their work. Second, this is a world where girls with the required get-up-go can succeed. Daphne does impress.......more


Quotes

“Fascinating and long overdue.” Washington Post

“Richly entertaining.” Guardian (London)

“A dramatic story…Miss Park’s achievements were remarkable.” Washington Times

“Peels backs Britain’s espionage world in order to show the fortitude of a woman who ascended its ranks…a woman who succeeded with wit, charm, and intellect. Also…readers can obtain considerable knowledge about Britain’s art of espionage…Highly recommended.” Library Journal (starred review)

“An excellent biography of a remarkable woman who easily built relationships to safeguard foreign policy objectives. She was forthright and obdurate, and she had an infectious sense of humor. Most importantly, she personified the qualities required: loyalty, respect, tradition, and absolute secrecy. As exciting as any good spy thriller—but it’s all true.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“An informative account of the Cold War and the workings of the supersecret SIS.” Publishers Weekly