When I originally viewed this series, I was enthralled. This prompted me to go out and research what is known about Sydney Reilly. The book this series is based on, Reilly:Ace of Spies by Robin Bruce Lockhart, is based primarily on what Reilly told his father. And what Reilly told him and many others were lies, half-truths, and distortions. Many researchers, some with wild claims about Reilly being a communist spy, realized much of the stories that circulated about his supposed deeds were not accurate. This is not the fault of the series or Robin Lockhart, this information was not known at the time.
The real Sydney Reilly is quite fascinating and complex individual. He did spy for the British but had personal motives (money mostly) that drove him as well. Nor did many of his exploits (stealing ship plans, helping the Japanese at Port Arthur, his association with a Moscow firm to get German warship plans) occur as he said they did. Nor did he have any association with Basil Zaharoff of Vickers as depicted in the series. But the ending is likely the most accurate. He was arrested on Russian soil after coming the meet members of the TRUST (a false front by the CHEKA to get their Russian émigré enemies identified and killed)interrogated, and executed.
A recent book, ACE OF SPIES/The True Story of Sidney Reilly exhaustively researched Reilly and is perhaps the best book as to who this fascinating person really was. Take the series as good entertainment and nothing more.
The real Sydney Reilly is quite fascinating and complex individual. He did spy for the British but had personal motives (money mostly) that drove him as well. Nor did many of his exploits (stealing ship plans, helping the Japanese at Port Arthur, his association with a Moscow firm to get German warship plans) occur as he said they did. Nor did he have any association with Basil Zaharoff of Vickers as depicted in the series. But the ending is likely the most accurate. He was arrested on Russian soil after coming the meet members of the TRUST (a false front by the CHEKA to get their Russian émigré enemies identified and killed)interrogated, and executed.
A recent book, ACE OF SPIES/The True Story of Sidney Reilly exhaustively researched Reilly and is perhaps the best book as to who this fascinating person really was. Take the series as good entertainment and nothing more.