Queen of Spies

The only biography of Britain's celebrated female spy - now fully updated with new materials. From being raised in a Tanzanian shack, to attaining MI6's most senior operational rank, Daphne Park led a highly unusual life. Drawing on first-hand accounts of intelligence workers close to agent Park, Hayes reveals how she rose in a male-dominated world to become Britain's Cold War spy master. With intimate, nail-biting details Queen of Spies captures both the paranoia and on-the-ground realities of intelligence work from the Second World War to the Cold War, and the life of Britain's celebrated female spy. PRAISE FOR QUEEN OF SPIES 'This is an excellent biography of a remarkable woman ... Intelligence researcher Hayes opens the door on the fascinating life of one of England's greatest spies, Daphne Park... As exciting as any good spy thriller but it's all true .' Kirkus 'Hayes deftly manages to chart her extraordinary life... that read like passages from a thriller .' Country Life 'Dame Daphne's story leaves us wondering about reality as seen through the eyes of a spy ; and about how far spy work affected that reality.' The Spectator ' Only the second-ever biography published about a Cold War career officer in MI6 .' The Big Issue 'Hayes's accomplished biography circumvents the scanty evidence by offering a broader portrait of the Secret Service itself, a badly compromised men's club in which the forthright Park still managed to succeed.' The Sunday Telegraph 'An interesting and informative work.' The Intelligencer '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.' Sunday Leader 'A wonderful new book that would make a great gift for anyone.' Irish Daily Mail 'A thoroughly researched and enlightening account.' Times Literary Supplement 'Daphne Park was truly the empress of British espionage. This book is a major contribution to understanding her fascinating career in MI6. Remarkably well-researched, it is required reading for anyone interested in the world of secret service.' Professor Richard J Aldrich, author of GCQH: The Uncensored Story of Britain's Most Secret Intelligence Agency ' A remarkable biography of a remarkable woman - providing real insight into MI6 of the Cold War.' Gordon Corera, author of MI6: Life and Death in the British Secret Service 'Writing a biography of Daphne Park was never going to be easy and Paddy Hayes has done a very good job .' Daily Telegraph ' A richly entertaining biography .' Guardian