Book description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A thrilling tale of secretaries turned spies, of love and duty, and of sacrifice—inspired by the true story of the CIA plot to infiltrate the hearts and minds of Soviet Russia, not with propaganda, but with the greatest love story of the twentieth century: Doctor…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The Secrets We Kept as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Being a huge fan of Dr. Zhivago, this was an easy one. The theme hooked me, a secretary plucked from the CIA secretarial pool to secretly distribute Pasternak’s banned novel in Russia during the Cold War. The story swings between the novelist’s epic love story with his mistress and muse—the real inspiration for his protagonist in Dr. Zhivago—and an American female spy working for the CIA.
I’m a sucker for a tragic, complicated love story, add impeccable historical detail, a book within a book, female spies risking their lives, and the proof that art can change the world, and…
From Serena's list on novels that will transport you to the 1950s.
As someone who writes about the Cold War, I loved this thrilling novel of espionage and secrecy. The Secrets We Kept follows women in the CIA who helped smuggle the novel Dr. Zhivago out of the Soviet Union. Not only is a story of resilient female spies (who make me want to don trench coats and sunglasses), but it’s a love story—and it sheds light on an under-represented dark spot in American history known as the “lavender scare.” Haven’t heard of that? Well, this book may be perfect for you.
From Ciera's list on historical fiction featuring strong women.
If you love The Secrets We Kept...
The Model Spy
The Model Spy is based on the true story of Toto Koopman, who spied for the Allies and Italian Resistance during World War II.
Largely unknown today, Toto was arguably the first woman to spy for the British Intelligence Service. Operating in the hotbed of Mussolini's Italy, she courted danger…
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