Master of Deception

Alan Ogden has written several books on the history of S.O.E. - it was when researching its activities in Greece and the Far East that he came across the occasional scant reference to the travel writer Peter Fleming and became determined to tell the story of his hitherto little known and extraordinary wartime activities. Based in London, Alan has also lectured and written extensively on Romanian history and culture, including a monograph about Patrick Leigh Fermor in pre-war Romania. He is currently the archivist of the Grenadier Guards and a lecturer for Martin Randall Travel.

A study of the adventurer's wartime capers ... filled with details you couldn't invent. 4/5 stars.

• Chapter One: A New Elizabethan Chapter Two: Plans and More PlansChapter Three: To War in the Frozen North Chapter Four: A Very British GuerrillaChapter Five: A Greek TragedyChapter Six: A Summons to IndiaChapter Seven: Burmese Capers and Haversack RusesChapter Eight: Global Strategists and StrategemsChapter Nine: Dining with Chinese DragonsChapter Ten: Total Intelligence: A Common Sense ApproachChapter Eleven: Building the Organisation Chapter Twelve: Sleight of Hand in the Order of the BattleChapter Thirteen: The Conjurors Take to the FieldChapter Fourteen: Feints and Noises OffChapter Fifteen: The Double Agents' ImpressarioChapter Sixteen: Imaginary Spies and Fantasy NetworksChapter Seventeen: The Bright Eye of Danger: A Chance with the ChinditsChapter Eighteen: Enough of War CrimesChapter Nineteen: Home is the Hunter