By Charlotte Philby (author)
"Perfect for sparking interest in untold stories, enriching school projects, and encouraging deeper thinking about gender and history in the world of espionage."
Paperback Temporarily Out Of Stock £8.99 £8.09
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In The Secret Lives of Women Spies , Charlotte Philby—granddaughter of notorious double agent Kim Philby—shines a long-overdue spotlight on the hidden heroines of espionage. She opens the book with a personal and engaging introduction, reflecting on her infamous grandfather’s legacy and her own growing awareness that history has largely overlooked the vital roles played by women in spycraft.
The book tells the detailed stories of 11 remarkable women who made espionage their profession, often at great personal risk, and with little or no recognition. Figures like Harriet Tubman and Mata Hari appear alongside lesser-known but equally courageous women, whose bravery and cunning shaped history from the shadows. Philby weaves together multiple sources for each biography, offering a layered portrayal of their lives and missions.
Interspersed throughout are shorter profiles of nine modern-day women spies—though oddly not listed in the table of contents—and brief sections on three well-known female figures who dabbled in espionage. There’s even a list of fictional girl spies from contemporary middle-grade fiction, offering readers points of connection.
The book does a commendable job of explaining the complex geopolitical landscapes these women operated in, shedding light on the reasons their contributions were historically marginalised. The text is clear and accessible, supported by a glossary and reference tools that make it a useful research resource for young readers.
Kat Goodloe’s dynamic illustrations and character portraits bring these hidden figures to life, adding texture and visual interest throughout.
An educational, and visually engaging book, The Secret Lives of Women Spies is ideal for upper primary and early secondary students. It’s perfect for sparking interest in untold stories, enriching school projects, and encouraging deeper thinking about gender and history in the world of espionage.
Step into the Secret World.
Charlotte Philby's grandfather was the most infamous double agent in history.
Inspired to find out about his world, Charlotte discovered that there were plenty of untold stories of courage and secrets and daring . . .
And so many were about women.
There are a host of extraordinary tales involving female spies: from dare-devil skiers delivering top-secret information, to clever codebreakers taking down the world's biggest criminals, to brave undercover agents fighting alongside the French Resistance.
Starring Edith Cavell, Elizebeth Friedman, Noor Inayat Khan and many more, the stories in this book explore the hope, courage, fear, loves and lives of these remarkable women.
Featuring top-secret spying info and imagined newspaper articles covering incredible spy stories, this is your chance to find out about the women who hid in the shadows, but deserve to be in the spotlight.
As well as the under-told stories of female spies, this book includes everything kids will want to know about the secret world – from MI6 to secret weapons (the ‘tools of her trade’). Not only a book packed full of incredible stories, this is the ultimate guide to the world of espionage.
Charlotte Philby is a critically acclaimed author of six novels. As a journalist, she worked for eight years as a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist at the Independent , where she was shortlisted for the Cudlipp Prize for investigative reporting. She is a former contributing editor and features writer at Marie Claire , and has written for publications including the Sunday Times, New Statesman and Financial Times . With the support of the BFI, she is currently adapting for film her novel Edith and Kim , which reimagines the lives of her grandfather, the double-agent Kim Philby, and Edith Tudor-Hart, who recruited him to the Soviet cause. Charlotte has three children and lives in Bristol.
Photo credit Barbara Evripidou
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Step into the Secret World.Charlotte Philby's grandfather was the most infamous double agent in history.Inspired to find out about his world, Charlotte discovered that there were plenty of untold stories of courage and secrets and daring . . .And so many were about women.There are a host of extraordinary tales involving female spies: from dare-devil skiers delivering top-secret information, to clever codebreakers taking down the world's biggest criminals, to brave undercover agents fighting alongside the French Resistance.Starring Edith Cavell, Elizebeth Friedman, Noor Inayat Khan and many more, the stories in this book explore the hope, courage, fear, loves and lives of these remarkable women.Featuring top-secret spying info and imagined newspaper articles covering incredible spy stories, this is your chance to find out about the women who hid in the shadows, but deserve to be in the spotlight. As well as the under-told stories of female spies, this book includes everything kids will want to know about the secret world – from MI6 to secret weapons (the ‘tools of her trade’).
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Secret Lives of Women Spies and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The Secret Lives of Women Spies features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, History, People / Places, Politics, Law, Philosophy & Ethics, Work / Industry, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Adventurers and outlaws, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Girls and women, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Biography and autobiography, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. Temporarily Out Of Stock.
The Secret Lives of Women Spies was written by Charlotte Philby and published by Puffin an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
The Secret Lives of Women Spies has 240 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. Temporarily Out Of Stock.
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