Agent Zigzag

In the midst of a war, this man manages to date while having both Germany and Britain fund his three girlfriends, continues to party like it's his last day (again, on the dime of two opposing nations), then seamlessly returns to a successful criminal life—avoiding prosecution under the guise of his “wartime secret service.”

I want to dislike him, but my God, it's hard not to be weirdly impressed.

IMO this book went a little heavy-handed with Ben Macintyre's pro-British leaning.

Such a remarkable story you have to wonder how much is embellishment.

Interesting history.

This is a quintessential case of the truth being stranger than fiction. As the author notes in his epilogue, no work of fiction seems to have rivaled the level of intricacy, the depth of the intrigue, or the patently absurd realities of Chapman's story. Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Nothing about this book will give you much juicy insight into the world of international espionage. It does, however, shed a bit of light into the fiction of Flemming, le Carré, et. all.

Presumably well researched and professionally delivered.

When I read information about this book, I was highly skeptical. How interesting could the story of a World War II double-agent really be? Sure, there would likely be some intrigue, but hardly anything compelling. I was SO wrong. This is one of the most exquisite books I have come across, both for storytelling and storyline. Intricately woven throughout are fascinating details about the criminal mind, political history, sabotage, culture, counter-intelligence and, of course, spycraft. Although it might seem dated, the relevance of this book is surprising, and it should be read by anyone with an even vague interest in the topics listed above. Suffice it to say, you will NOT be disappointed.