Though the name Mata Hari is one of the most famous in all of espionage, she has been called the worst spy of the century, the most misunderstood and tragic espionage figure in history, and the “Spy Who Never Was.” Margaretha Geertruida Zelle was a poor Dutch girl who became a European celebrity and brilliantly marketed herself as a Malaysian exotic dancer only to be accused by the French as a German espionage agent..

The name Sidney Reilly is associated with the Great War, British intelligence, and the Bolshevik uprising in 1917. He has been called the “Ace of Spies”; the facts of his life are difficult to find and shrouded in mystery largely by his own design. Newspapers and biographical works have gushed superlatives concerning his efficiency as a British agent.

The names of Sidney Reilly and Mata Hari are synonymous with twentieth century espionage. Who they really were and what they did during the Great War has intrigued and mystified the public for decades. This color-illustrated essay investigates these two legendary figures along with other Great War spies. 8x10 inch tradebook, color, 38 pages.