The Spy Wore Red

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Summary: This book is an edge-of-your-seat thriller - truly exciting!
Review: I've been a fanatical lover of mysteries, detective novels, and spy novels since I was a child. The Spy Wore Red is one of the best and most exciting books that I have ever read. What makes it even more exciting is that it's a true story. I couldn't get a hold of the Countess' second book: The Spy Went Dancing fast enough!

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Summary: A Spanish teacher recommends "The Spy Wore Red"...to ALL!
Review: Reading and re-reading The Spy Wore Red is a wonderful experience! Most of your other reviewers agree, but there are two aspects they seem to miss: the richness of Spanish cultural information and the possibility of a change in role for women. Aline Griffiths is bright, well educated, and departs from traditional women's work to lead a daring, adventurous, downright-dangerous job.

As a Spanish teacher, I have recommended The Spy Wore Red to my high school students for years. Several students who later spent their college junior year in Spain have come back to tell me how much this book meant to them and how much more they appreciated it following their sojourn there. They could catch glimpses of the old Spain in the new, simply because they had read this thriller.

World War II began as the Spanish Civil War ended(1936-1939), so Aline Griffiths arrived as huge social changes were about to occur in Spain. This book provides a superb peek into the "old" Spain, the Spain of high romance and extraordinarily traditional, now-antiquated values. Yet it is described in context of a delightfully novel-like autobiographical tale. Although it reads better than most spy fiction, one can take notes on Spanish culture on virtually every page. It is engrossing, culture-rich, and shows a young American girl from Pearl River, New York, doing the kinds of things of which only a grownup Nancy Drew type might have dreamed.

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Summary: Trust me, this is one of the best books you will ever read!
Review: The Spy Wore Red was one of the best books I have ever read. Not only was the story amazingly true, it was extremely hard to put down. This story, about a female spy's adventures in WWII (hence the name), was truly heart-pounding. There was a romantic plot, an espionage plot, and a SURPRISE ENDING that was one of the best (and saddest) that I have read in years. This is a great book if you are interested in the fascinating story of a remarkable person, and if you have a soft heart. P.S. If you are into WWII history, this makes the book especially interesting and brings the mystery of espionage down to a more human level.