Ben MacIntyre

Ben Macintyre, a journalist at The Times and bestselling author, delves into fascinating tales of espionage and military operations. He discusses his latest book on the Iranian embassy hostage crisis, sharing insights on balancing fact and fiction. Macintyre reveals the challenges of sourcing historical dialogue and the evolution of his citation practices. He also reflects on crafting narratives around wartime events, detailing how declassified archives have shaped his storytelling. Listeners will appreciate his views on the writing process and the impact of AI on literature.

Ben MacIntyre, an expert on espionage and author of notable works like Agent Zigzag, joins the hosts to dive into the captivating world of spies. They discuss the moral dilemmas faced by these operatives and their significant impact on history. The conversation also touches on the role of women in espionage, highlighting figures like Agent Sonia. Listeners will learn about the intriguing fusion of espionage in literature and real-life operations, plus the ever-evolving techniques of intelligence amidst modern challenges.