One of those nonfiction books that would not be believable as fiction, this is the story of Eddie Chapman, a criminal who became one of Britain's best double agents. He was a hero using the traits that made him so successful a rogue and scoundrel. Trained by the Third Reich in occupied France to parachute into his home country to blow up a warplane factory, Chapman instead contacted MI5, the British Secret Service. For the rest of the war he worked for Britain, traveling across Europe spreading

15/10 - A fascinating tale of British and German espionage during WWII. The quote from John Le Carre on the front cover, describing the book as"Superb. Meticulously researched, splendidly told, immensely entertaining and often very moving."is absolutely correct. I did find the story 'moving', but mostly only in that the treatment of Chapman by his second handler, after Reed was sent to France, was atrocious and mostly inspired by what I see as Ryde's jealousy over Chapman's success with women an...

Colonel Robin 'Tin Eye' Stephens, one of Eddie Chapman's interrogators, said, 'Fiction has not, and probably never will, produce an espionage story to rival in fascination and improbability the true story of Edward Chapman, whom only war could invest with virtue, and that only for its duration.'Never a truer word has been written or spoken for Chapman's exploits for both the Germans and the British very nearly defy belief. How he held it all together and lied his way through World War II as a do...

”War was coming, everyone said so, but the dining room of the Hotel de la Plage was a place of pure peace that sunny Sunday. Beyond the golden beach, the waves flickered among a scatter of tiny islands, as Eddie and Betty ate trifle off plates with smart blue crests. Eddie was halfway through telling another funny story when he froze. A group of men in overcoats and brown hats had entered the restaurant and one was now in urgent conversations with the headwaiter. Before Betty could speak, Eddie

Oh dear. One third of my way through Agent Zigzag, and I am going to have to give up reading it. I cannot bear the 'And this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened' Boys’ Own stodge a minute longer. I have indigestion and a headache.One good thing has emerged from this failed reading. I realise I don’t much like biographies and autobiographies. There have been a couple that really shone for me, but it’s a genre I often find myself struggling with. I find them plodding – perhaps...

This is a splendid biography of Eddie Chapman, who went from small-time criminal to double-agent for the British during World War II while never fully abandoning his anti-establishment urges. Chapman performed many wartime feats of derring-do, and although his main allegiance appeared to lie with the Allies, he was was also trusted and rewarded by the German Abwehr; after the war, he even invited one of his principal German contacts to attend his daughter's wedding. This multi-facted and multi-t...

Loved it throughout! What a story to tell and can’t think of anyone better to tell it! I wouldn’t have believed it if it hadn’t been a true story. Absolutely fantastic!

If you're looking for an even-handed recounting and reflections on this book, you should probably check out Jeffrey Keeten's stellar review (it has lots of pictures and everything). However, if you're looking for my favorite moments of skullduggery(along with the occasional pop culture parallel), then you're in the right spot. Eddie Chapman (codename: ZigZag) was, among other things, the head of the "Jelly Gang" (they used gelignite to break into safes), a bit of a lady's man living in "the w...

Quite an adventure! Eddie Chapman was charming, handsome, smart, cunning and manipulative and able to play both ends against the middle. To this day no one is sure how he really played the game, although Great Britain benefited the most from Eddie's talents....that is with the exception of Eddie himself.A word should be said about Britain's MI5 unit. After reading this book and Operation Mincemeat by the same author, it would appear that Great Britain had the best Military Intelligence unit in W...

I love good historical nonfiction, and Macintyre knows how to write. He tells the story of Eddie Chapman, a charming English criminal who is jailed in France during World War II, becomes a spy for the Nazis, is sent back to England and turns himself into MI5 to become a double agent for the British. The story is better than a spy novel, because it’s true, and proves the old saying that truth is stranger than fiction. Chapman goes back and forth between the British and the Nazis, playing both si

If it wasn't for the fact that this book is non-fiction, I probably would have rated it low based on a purely unbelievable plot. But all of this happened to Eddie Chapman, the most notorious double agent of World War 2. I don't normally read historical non-fiction, but this book was so effortlessly entertaining purely because of the batshit insane things that happened to Chapman. I mean he really had a life. It was also so fun to find out all about the work the secret services did during the war...

An amazing real life history of the most notorious British double agent of World War II, Eddie Chapman a.k.a. Agent Zigzag. Well written and just as good to read as any fictional espionage story. I really enjoyed to read about the amazing exploits of Eddie Chapman! Quote that says it all:“War, briefly, brought out in Chapman an obstinate conscience. His vices were as extreme as his virtues, and to the end of his life it was never clear whether he was on the side of the angels or the devils, whet...

Rating Clarification: 3.5 StarsWhile not as interesting a read as Macintyre's Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory, the true story of double agent Eddie Chapman still had its moments. Chapman was a thief, a con-man, a ladies man (with a girl in every port, so to speak) and a hustler.I liked him immensely.What a charming rogue. The kind of guy you'd like to have drinks with, but not the kind you'd "take home to mother" (thanks, Rick...

John le Carre perfectly described this book, "Superb. Meticulously researched, splendidly told, immensely entertaining, and often very moving." I'll just add that this is one helluva book. It made me laugh, it broke my heart and it blew my mind away. Ben Macintyre is the kind of storyteller that I can only dream of becoming. Zigzag is, by himself a highly entertaining and compelling character, but he truly came alive for me with this book. And although a complicated story that was undoubtedly ex...

Agent Zigzag is my first book by Ben Macintyre, but I am curious to read more by him. He has the ability to make a nonfiction account read like an engaging novel. The story of Eddie Chapman, spy and double agent during the Second World War was new to me, and it held my attention from start to finish. Recommended!Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

The story is a good one but didn't care for the writing style. A struggle to finish

On my way to work, a co-worker asked me what I was reading so avidly. I replied "Agent ZigZag. It's about a British bank robber who is stuck in WWII occupied Europe, volunteers to be a spy for the Germans, parachutes into Britain and immediately calls MI5 to volunteer to work for them instead.""So fiction then." my co-worker replied."No way, they can't write fiction this absurd. It'd never get published." (in a later chapter, an MI5 interrogator wrote almost that same line into Eddie Chapman's f...

Another well-researched, concise, interesting and wonderfully written spy novel by Ben MacIntyre.The life of Chapman was certainly interesting and how he was able to be a double agent and maintain his cool for all those years was amazing! Except for a few slight missteps when dealing with von Groning & other German interrogators & his ability to react quickly and have an answer, most likely saved his life, since he would be discovered as a spy. His ability to convince both the British & Germans

I listened to the audio version of this book and it provided a fascinating insight into the workings of the spy agencies of England and Germany during WWII. A cast of interesting characters and written in a very engaging manner. Highly recommend.

I really want to rate this book 3 stars, but it was a lot of fun to read. It's not the best writing and the amount of detail is cumbersome at times, but it moves briskly. The plot is instantly intriguing: Eddie Chapman, a small-time crook, is jailed by the English and enslaved by the Nazis when they conquer the Channel Islands. Because of his safe-cracking and explosives experience, he offers to serve as a spy for the Germans. In due time, his request is honored, and he begins training in the Fr...