Agent Sonya: The Most Consequential Spy in the History of Technology?
Channel: New America
Date: 2021-03-11

Ben Macintyre's latest riveting espionage history, Agent Sonya: Moscow’s Most Daring Wartime Spy, chronicles the astonishing life of Ursula Kuczynski, code-named Sonya. 
The book is riveting for many reasons, among them the depiction of wireless tradecraft and as a primer of what was the single most important case of industrial and tech espionage ever: the Soviet appropriation of the IP to build the A-bomb. And, in 2021, it should come as no surprise that one of the most important spies of the 20th century was a multitasking mother working from home, but an amusing subplot of Macintyre’s tale is the extent to which the blinding power of pervasive sexism (say, among spy catchers) worked in Sonya’s favor.

Join us for a conversation with the author about his latest work. The discussion will be facilitated by author Liza Mundy, who is currently working on a book about the historical “sisterhood” of women at the CIA.

Speakers:

Ben Macintyre, @BenMacintyre1
Author, Agent Sonya: The World’s Most Daring Wartime Spy

Liza Mundy, @lizamundy
Senior Fellow, New America
Author, Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II

Follow the conversation online using #AgentSonya and by following @FutureTenseNow

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