Join James Crossland, a Professor of International History and co-director at Liverpool John Moores University, as he unpacks the thrilling life of Robert Bruce Lockhart—a diplomat, conspirator, and propagandist. Discover Lockhart's audacious escapades during the Bolshevik Revolution and how he navigated complex political landscapes. From his extravagant journalism to failed rubber plantations, Crossland reveals Lockhart's captivating duality and his role in wartime propaganda. Dive into the machinations of history with stories that read like fiction!
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insights INSIGHT
Lockhart's Unique Intelligence Methods
Lockhart combined charm, curiosity, and linguistic skill to gather intelligence uniquely.
His willingness to engage with all Russian social layers set him apart from other diplomats.
insights INSIGHT
Lord Milner's Patronage Key
Lockhart's appointment was backed by Lord Milner, a key British imperial figure.
Milner's patronage was crucial to Lockhart becoming Britain's trusted man in Russia.
insights INSIGHT
Lockhart's Rogue Agent Role
Lockhart was given a unique, quasi-diplomatic agent role directly under the war cabinet.
This role gave him wide freedom but also great risk as he operated with little oversight.
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From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, The Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart
James Crossland
James Crossland's "Rogue Agent" is a biography of Robert Bruce Lockhart, a fascinating figure who served as a diplomat, spy, and propagandist. The book details Lockhart's life, from his time in Malaya to his involvement in the Lockhart Plot against the Bolsheviks. It explores his complex personality, his relationships, and his significant role in shaping British intelligence and propaganda during World War I and II. The narrative highlights Lockhart's unique ability to navigate treacherous political landscapes and his contributions to shaping British foreign policy. Crossland's work offers a comprehensive and engaging account of a remarkable life lived in extraordinary times.
The Rise of the Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism
The Rise of the Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism
Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism
James Crossland
In "The Rise of the Devils," James Crossland delves into the historical roots of modern terrorism, tracing its evolution through various periods and ideologies. The book examines the role of fear and societal anxieties in shaping the rise of terrorist movements. Crossland analyzes key events and figures, providing insights into the motivations and strategies of terrorists. He explores the interplay between political, social, and economic factors that contribute to the emergence of terrorism. The book offers a nuanced understanding of the complex phenomenon of terrorism, challenging simplistic narratives and providing a framework for analyzing its historical trajectory.
Memoirs of a British Agent
Being an account of the author's early life in many lands and of his official mission to Moscow in 1918
R. H. Bruce Lockhart
Memoirs of a British Agent is a gripping account of Robert Bruce Lockhart's experiences as a British diplomat in Moscow during the Russian Revolution. The book details his interactions with key figures like Lenin and Trotsky, as well as his personal life, including a notable affair with Countess Moura Budberg. It offers a firsthand perspective on historical events and personal struggles.
Robert Bruce Lockhart was at various times in his life a diplomat, a conspirator, an gatherer of intelligence, and a propagandist. He was always a maverick, a charmer, a bit of a cad with a touch of the bounder, and a devotee of the high life when he could afford it, and often when he could not.
In his busy life he ran a Malaya rubber plantation; served as a diplomat in Czarist Russia; and was first an interlocutor with and then a conspirator against the Bolshevik leaders of the early Soviet Union. After imprisonment and expulsion from the Soviet Union, he ricocheted about Europe as a journalist and memoirist, before ending up as head of the shadowy and creative Political Warfare Executive. Throughout his life he seemed to be an escapee from a John Buchan novel like The Thirty-Nine Steps, or Greemantle, albeit one with a much higher sex drive.
With me to talk about Robert Bruce Lockhart is James Crossland, Professor of International History at Liverpool John Moores University, where he is co-director of the Centre for Modern and Contemporary History. His interests are in—among other things—terrorism, propaganda, the International Red Cross and the history of international humanitarian law. He was last on the podcast in Episode 353 to talk about his book The Rise of the Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism. His newest book is Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart.
Some related podcasts in the archive are Jonathan Schneer on the Lockhart Plot; Anna Reid on the Russian Civil War; and–well, I mentioned it, oddly enough–Ben Jones on the Jedburghs.
Historically Thinking 
