The Poet's Game: writing a bestselling spy thriller, with Paul Vidich
In this episode, Antonia Senior dives deep into Paul Vidich’s gripping spy novel The Poet’s Game. We unpack the central theme of trust in espionage, the moral ambiguity faced by CIA agents, and how contemporary political tensions shape the narrative.
We also explore how Vidich portrays psychological depth, ideological conflict, and the literary influences that define modern spy fiction.
Topics Discussed:
Trust and betrayal between handlers and assets
The CIA director’s discovery of compromising material on the president
How politics and ideology shape spy operations
Psychological depth of characters like Alex Matthews
The renaissance of spy fiction in today’s world
Perfect for fans of:
John le Carré • Charles Cummings David McCloskey • Political thrillers • CIA novels
00:00 – Introduction to *The Poet's Game*
04:00 – Trust and Relationships in Espionage
06:42 – The Complexity of Intelligence Work
10:00 – Moral Ambiguity in Spy Fiction
12:33 – Contemporary Setting and Political Context
15:33 – Character Development and Psychological Depth
18:04 – The Role of Ideology in Espionage
20:57 – The Poet’s Network and Literary Influences
24:06 – The Future of Alex Matthews
26:32 – The Renaissance of Spy Fiction
29:38 – Influences and Responsibilities of Spy Novelists
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SpyMasters
Writer and journalist Antonia Senior interviews all the best writers on espionage. Each episode will bring you fascinating stories on spies, covert action and more - delving in to fact and fiction, past and present.
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