First published 2012
William Stevenson sits in the cockpit of his Seafire, another dangerous mission ahead in the skies over wartime England. The young naval pilot has already flown Stringbags, Tiger Moths, and Hellcats across England, Canada, Scotland, and the Pacific, mastering new aircraft and aerial maneuvers as World War II rages. When peace comes, Stevenson cannot settle into quiet civilian life. He joins The Toronto Daily Star as a journalist, seeking adventure in a different form. On assignment, he meets William Stephenson, the legendary spymaster known as Intrepid, whose secret networks helped change history's course. This encounter sparks a friendship that will define both their lives. Stevenson's reporting takes him around the world to Hong Kong, Delhi, Kashmir, Kenya, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, and Thailand. He sits across from iconic figures like Ian Fleming, Prime Minister Nehru, Ho Chi Minh, Mao Tse-tung, Zhou Enlai, Tito, and Khrushchev. Through confidential briefings and insider access, Stevenson becomes witness to the century's most pivotal moments. His story reveals how one man's hunger for adventure led him to the heart of international intrigue.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, biography-memoir, 21st-century, journalism
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: adventure, historical-figures
Setting: England, Canada, Scotland, Pacific, Toronto, Hong Kong, Delhi, Kashmir, Kenya, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Thailand
Period: World War II, Postwar
272 pages · Hardcover · Lyons Press