Agent Zigzag follows the story of Eddie Chapman and his actions as a double agent during the second world war. The story is truly remarkable.
Chapman was an English criminal who along with his 'friends' had become quite successful at opening safes with explosives. Whilst visiting the island of Jersey, he is arrested (the story of which includes the one factual time I have read of someone deliberately jumping through a glass window successfully). 'Luckily' for him, he broke the law in Jersey as well and is therefore imprisoned in Jersey rather than sent back to England to face in his estimation a fourteen year stretch.
The war begins, and the Germans occupy Jersey, into which Chapman is released. Along with Anthony Faramus he comes up with the idea of offering to spy for the Germans as a way to get back to England. They are then both transferred to prison in France.
Eventually the Abwehr (German Military Intelligence) interview Chapman and he convinces them that he is their man. Chapman is sent to a training station in France whilst Faramus is kept locked up to hold over Chapman.
After significant training, Chapman is parachuted into England, where he contacts MI5 and begins work as a double agent, in which he fake sabotages a Mosquito factory. He returns to the Germans via Portugal, receives an Iron Cross and is moved to Norway.
As the Germans become desperate, he is dropped into England again, where he again contacts MI5 and begins relaying further false information.
I won't spoil too much of the story.
The book is well researched and moves along as well as any novel. Being factual it captures the complex personality of someone who can make a success of such an activity better than any work of fiction.
Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in espionage, the second world war, or who enjoys a ripping yarn.
Chapman was an English criminal who along with his 'friends' had become quite successful at opening safes with explosives. Whilst visiting the island of Jersey, he is arrested (the story of which includes the one factual time I have read of someone deliberately jumping through a glass window successfully). 'Luckily' for him, he broke the law in Jersey as well and is therefore imprisoned in Jersey rather than sent back to England to face in his estimation a fourteen year stretch.
The war begins, and the Germans occupy Jersey, into which Chapman is released. Along with Anthony Faramus he comes up with the idea of offering to spy for the Germans as a way to get back to England. They are then both transferred to prison in France.
Eventually the Abwehr (German Military Intelligence) interview Chapman and he convinces them that he is their man. Chapman is sent to a training station in France whilst Faramus is kept locked up to hold over Chapman.
After significant training, Chapman is parachuted into England, where he contacts MI5 and begins work as a double agent, in which he fake sabotages a Mosquito factory. He returns to the Germans via Portugal, receives an Iron Cross and is moved to Norway.
As the Germans become desperate, he is dropped into England again, where he again contacts MI5 and begins relaying further false information.
I won't spoil too much of the story.
The book is well researched and moves along as well as any novel. Being factual it captures the complex personality of someone who can make a success of such an activity better than any work of fiction.
Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in espionage, the second world war, or who enjoys a ripping yarn.