MODERN ATHENAS Episode 29: Vera Atkins, the Real Ms. Moneypenny / Spymistress & Secret Agent

MODERN ATHENAS

In this podcast, we will be discussing the book Spymistress: The True Story of the Greatest Female Secret Agent of World War II, by William Stevenson. We meet Vera Atkins, a British spy. Vera’s work has never been given the same spotlight as that of other spies or resistance fighters who were part of the war effort. Perhaps that is because she was a woman in a man’s world, or perhaps it is due to a controversy that surrounds her involving the collapse of one of the networks of spies in France. Either way, what there is no controversy about is that she was one of the most important Allied spies and that she was indirectly and directly responsible for the training and success of many of the resistance fighters in German-occupied France.
On a more humorous side note, it is also believed that Vera is the basis for the Miss Moneypenny character in Ian Flemming’s James Bond novels.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:41 F-Section and the Controversy
7:10 The Controversy
14:16 It Takes a Special Breed
18:08 Connections
22:00 Biuro Szyfrow (Cipher Bureau)
30:19 Battle of Taranto
32:35 Adapting to Your Environment
36:02 Making Decisions
40:42 Courage
43:27 Final Thoughts and Next Episode
Visit www.modernathenas.com for links to all episodes. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play or YouTube. Send us feedback or leave a review! Thanks for listening.
Follow us on Twitter/Facebook @modernathenas
Follow us on Instagram @themodernathenaspodcast
Thanks for listening and sharing in the conversation!