Spies and Other Gods: James Wolff on British intelligence, secrecy, and the “soul” of spying

Former British intelligence officer (writing under a pseudonym), James Wolff, joins Antonia Senior for a smart, funny, unflinching conversation about his daring new novel Spies and Other Gods — a spy story told in a totally unexpected voice.

We talk secrecy and censorship, the strange culture of intelligence, oversight (and why it rarely works), the moral “grubbiness” baked into espionage, and why the most interesting spy drama is often just two people in a room talking.

Buy the book: Waterstones, Amazon, or your favourite indie (links below). Find Antonia on History Book Buffs: YouTube + podcast. 

Spies and Other Gods (Waterstones): https://www.waterstones.com/book/spies-and-other-gods/james-wolff/9781399826310

Spies and Other Gods (Amazon UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spies-Other-Gods-electrifying-mysterious/dp/139982631X

Spies and Other Gods (Daunt Books): https://dauntbooks.co.uk/shop/books/spies-and-other-gods/

History Book Buffs (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@TheHistoryBookBuffs

History Book Buffs (Spotify show): https://open.spotify.com/show/1374VWNaaXrnveueY4iclQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices