Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, The Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart

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Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart (18871970) was an impressive figure: a diplomat, intelligence agent, conspirator, journalist and propagandist who played a key role in both world wars. A man who charmed his way into the confidences of everyone from Leon Trotsky to Anthony Eden, and who influential press baron Lord Beaverbook claimed could well have been prime minister. And yet Lockhart died almost forgotten and near destitute, becoming little more than a footnote in the pages of history.
Rogue Agent is the first biography of this gifted yet habitually flawed maverick. It chronicles his many exploits, from his time as Britains Agent in Moscow, when he conspired with MI6s Ace of Spies Sidney Reilly to bring down the Communist regime, to leading the Political Warfare Executive, a secret body responsible for disinformation and propaganda in the Second World War.
Exploring Lockharts unorthodox thinking and contributions to the development of psychological warfare as well as his hedonistic lifestyle the late nights and many affairs that left him in a state of perpetual debt Rogue Agent tells the thrilling story of this unconventional war hero.

Reviews

In this highly readable biography of secret agent Robert Bruce Lockhart, James Crossland unravels a fascinating life Crossland has unravelled a fascinating life and created a crisp, readable narrative. It is impossible not to keep the pages turning Scotland on Sunday

Compelling and meticulously researched,the riveting life of a maverick Scottish spy. Charles Cumming

In this rigorously researched yet lively and highly readable account, James Crossland cuts through the myth and legend to tell a compelling story. Professor Rory Cormac, author of How to Stage a Coup

This riveting account of Lockharts adventures in revolutionary Russia, his penchant for exotic women and extravagant nightlife, reads like a thriller. Julia Boyd, author of A Village in the Third Reich

A mesmerising tale of espionage and journalism . . . when an elite Scot with no drop of English blood in my veins might believe he could almost single-handedly change world history. James Hawes, author of The Shortest History of Germany

From defying Bolsheviks in Russia to bedding princesses in Malaya, the hero of James Crosslands book Rogue Agent was quite the bounder This biography, detailed and engagingly written, gives us the man, warts and all: a restless spirit who might well have achieved more with fewer women and less wine. The Daily Telegraph

inspiring, sympathetic and expertly balanced James Crosslands Rogue Agent is a surprisingly brisk read that shines a light on an enigmatic figure in British espionage history who has hitherto remained in the shadows. Highly recommended. All About History

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. HistoryBookChat

Its a brilliant book everyone, go and get it! Dan Snow

We thoroughly recommend Rogue Agent to any lover of spy stories, and intelligence history as often fact is far more exciting than fiction. History with Jackson

Author Bio

James Crossland is a Reader in International History at Liverpool John Moores University and the author of three books: Britain and the International Committee of the Red Cross, 19391945 (Palgrave, 2014), War, Law and Humanity: The Campaign to Control Warfare, 18531914 (Bloomsbury, 2018) and The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Terrorism (Manchester University Press, 2023). Crossland has also written extensively on the history of warfare, intelligence, fake news, terrorism and propaganda for popular history magazines.