The Unlikely Spy
Encyclopedia
The Unlikely Spy is a spy novel written by Daniel Silva, set during World War II
, and published in 1996. While some of the exact characters and events may be fictional, the book is based on very real events- the attempt by the Allies
to use British intelligence to cover up the true plans for D-Day. The deception plan was called Operation Fortitude
, and Double Cross
also played a role. Specifically, the book has a backdrop (a subset of Fortitude referred to as Fortitude South).
by Winston Churchill
to assist with the attempts to confuse Nazi Germany about the true plans for D-Day. While the true invasion is planned for Normandy
, Vicary is one of the agents involved in the fabrication of the fictional First United States Army Group, which is supposedly poised to invade at Calais
. He uses double agent
Karl Becker as a part of this process.
However, there is a grave threat to this plan: All of the poorly-trained German Abwehr
agents have been captured, but Abwehr
officer Kurt Vogel has a small group of highly trained agents still in Britain, the chief one being Anna Katerina von Steiner, working under the alias
Catherine Blake. This a grave threat because a real German agent could reveal the deception of Operation Fortitude, the Germans would expect an invasion at Normandy, and would plan accordingly. The invasion would fail horribly.
Catherine Blake, since she is a rather attractive woman in addition to being a trained spy, successfully romances US Navy officer Peter Jordan, a gifted American engineer who is working on an artificial-harbor complex for the true invasion. She breaks into Jordan's safe and photographs the highly secret documents therein. She then hands the film off to fellow agent Horst Neumann, who takes it to the Portuguese embassy. A Portuguese diplomat smuggles the film back to Europe in the diplomatic pouch.
Once this method is found out, Peter Jordan is given faked documents to put in his safe, which the book calls Operation Kettledrum.
Catherine Blake and Horst Neumann nearly succeed with a daring escape plan- up from London to Hampton Sands (a small village that is the base for Neumann) in a stolen van, then from Hampton Sands to another small village on the North Sea
coast. From there, they would take a small rickety fishing boat to meet a waiting U-boat
, which would take them back to Germany. (If they had made it back to Germany, the entire operation very well would have succeeded, because they would have brought their knowledge back with them.)
However, they are in sight of the U-boat and about to transfer onto it when hostage Jenny Colville sabotages the fishing boat's fuel lines, bringing the boat to a standstill. Royal Navy
corvettes fire at the boat, immediately killing Catherine and Horst.
The book shares many plot elements with the earlier Eye Of The Needle
by Ken Follett
. However, a key element not present in the earlier book and playing a key role in Silva's are constant intrigues and internal power struggles going on within British Intelligence itself, with Professor Vicary eventually finding that he had been thoroughly deceived and manipulated by his own superiors.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and published in 1996. While some of the exact characters and events may be fictional, the book is based on very real events- the attempt by the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
to use British intelligence to cover up the true plans for D-Day. The deception plan was called Operation Fortitude
Operation Fortitude
Operation Fortitude was the codename for a World War II military deception employed by the Allied nations as part of an overall deception strategy during the build up to the 1944 Normandy Landings...
, and Double Cross
Double Cross System
The Double Cross System, or XX System, was a World War II anti-espionage and deception operation of the British military intelligence arm, MI5. Nazi agents in Britain - real and false - were captured, turned themselves in or simply announced themselves and were then used by the British to broadcast...
also played a role. Specifically, the book has a backdrop (a subset of Fortitude referred to as Fortitude South).
Plot summary
Alfred Vicary, a British university professor, is brought into the British intelligence unit MI5MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
by Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
to assist with the attempts to confuse Nazi Germany about the true plans for D-Day. While the true invasion is planned for Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, Vicary is one of the agents involved in the fabrication of the fictional First United States Army Group, which is supposedly poised to invade at Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
. He uses double agent
Double agent
A double agent, commonly abbreviated referral of double secret agent, is a counterintelligence term used to designate an employee of a secret service or organization, whose primary aim is to spy on the target organization, but who in fact is a member of that same target organization oneself. They...
Karl Becker as a part of this process.
However, there is a grave threat to this plan: All of the poorly-trained German Abwehr
Abwehr
The Abwehr was a German military intelligence organisation from 1921 to 1944. The term Abwehr was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany's post-World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only...
agents have been captured, but Abwehr
Abwehr
The Abwehr was a German military intelligence organisation from 1921 to 1944. The term Abwehr was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany's post-World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only...
officer Kurt Vogel has a small group of highly trained agents still in Britain, the chief one being Anna Katerina von Steiner, working under the alias
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Catherine Blake. This a grave threat because a real German agent could reveal the deception of Operation Fortitude, the Germans would expect an invasion at Normandy, and would plan accordingly. The invasion would fail horribly.
Catherine Blake, since she is a rather attractive woman in addition to being a trained spy, successfully romances US Navy officer Peter Jordan, a gifted American engineer who is working on an artificial-harbor complex for the true invasion. She breaks into Jordan's safe and photographs the highly secret documents therein. She then hands the film off to fellow agent Horst Neumann, who takes it to the Portuguese embassy. A Portuguese diplomat smuggles the film back to Europe in the diplomatic pouch.
Once this method is found out, Peter Jordan is given faked documents to put in his safe, which the book calls Operation Kettledrum.
Catherine Blake and Horst Neumann nearly succeed with a daring escape plan- up from London to Hampton Sands (a small village that is the base for Neumann) in a stolen van, then from Hampton Sands to another small village on the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coast. From there, they would take a small rickety fishing boat to meet a waiting U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
, which would take them back to Germany. (If they had made it back to Germany, the entire operation very well would have succeeded, because they would have brought their knowledge back with them.)
However, they are in sight of the U-boat and about to transfer onto it when hostage Jenny Colville sabotages the fishing boat's fuel lines, bringing the boat to a standstill. Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
corvettes fire at the boat, immediately killing Catherine and Horst.
The book shares many plot elements with the earlier Eye Of The Needle
Eye of the Needle
Eye of the Needle is a spy thriller novel written by British author Ken Follett. It was originally published in 1978 by the Penguin Group titled Storm Island. This novel was Follett's first successful, bestselling effort as a novelist, and it earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the...
by Ken Follett
Ken Follett
Ken Follett is a Welsh author of thrillers and historical novels. He has sold more than 100 million copies of his works. Four of his books have reached the number 1 ranking on the New York Times best-seller list: The Key to Rebecca, Lie Down with Lions, Triple, and World Without End.-Early...
. However, a key element not present in the earlier book and playing a key role in Silva's are constant intrigues and internal power struggles going on within British Intelligence itself, with Professor Vicary eventually finding that he had been thoroughly deceived and manipulated by his own superiors.