ROGUE AGENT

ROGUE AGENT

by James Crossland. 

In his introduction, James states some of the many descriptions history has labelled Robert Bruce Lockhart. A womaniser and drinker, a diplomat and plotter, to name but a few.

Through the first half of the book we are introduced to several women that he quickly falls in love with and would play a large part throughout his life. These relationships and the circumstances in which they began, often brought difficulties to those around Lockhart. 

He would suffer bouts of depression, feeling that all was lost. Yet to be sent to Russia twice, the second time as a British Agent,  revealed much courage and little in the way of nerves. More remarkable was the timing. This was at the height of the first world war and whilst a revolution was sweeping the country. 

Alas, this courage and/or confidence would turn to cockiness as he started to step outside the scope of his government's brief. He was involved in a dangerous game of meddling in Russian politics. Soon those he was secretly plotting against, the current Communist government, would find out. It would lead to arrest in Moscow and disgrace back home.

But was it his lover who had actually betrayed him?

A period living in Europe took him out of the limelight. Before a job offer/favour exchange to write for Lord Beaverbrook's Standard newspaper,  brought him home and to Fleet Street. This preceded his writing and the publishing of his memoirs in 1932. This first book was a huge success and was later made into a film starring Leslie Howard.

Now with the rise of Hitler and talk of war across Europe, Lockhart was approached to comeback into the fold of the Foreign Office. 

He travelled across Europe where he witnessed Hitler's arrival in Vienna. His travels revealed much about the art of propaganda. 

The second world war inevitably followed. Lockhart would work throughout the war in several roles concentrating mostly on propaganda and psychological warfare. Following the war's end in 1945, he received great praise for his work.

The years following the war sees him return to his writing.

Slowly with growing health issues and old age, his life quietened down.

He died at the age of eighty-two in February 1970.

A life certainly lived, with parts still sprinkled in mystery. 

Great credit to author James Crossland, for it is clear that a tremendous amount of research has gone into bringing us Robert Lockhart's story. It is an intriguing and fascinating read, which I very much enjoyed. 

The hardback book is published on September 19th by Elliott & Thompson. 

I thank them for this review copy.