Honourable Rebel: The Memoirs of Elizabeth Montagu, Aristocrat turned spy, a life lived boldly

Honourable Rebel tells the remarkable story of The Honourable Elizabeth Montagu, a woman born into the upper echelons of British society who defied expectations to forge a life of fierce independence, artistic brilliance, and covert service.

Raised in a world of privilege, Elisabeth chose passion over propriety, becoming a celebrated pianist, a gifted librettist, and a powerful presence in British cultural life. She was fluent in four European languages, a skill that not only deepened her creative reach but would later prove vital during wartime intelligence work.

She moved easily among artistic giants — Toscanini, Horowitz, Edwin Fischer, Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears — not as a mere admirer, but as a creative collaborator and kindred spirit. In theatre and film, she worked both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, collaborating with cinematic legends like Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Graham Greene, and Sir Alexander Korda, as both an actress and respected film dialogue director.

During the Second World War, Elizabeth turned her intellect and multilingual talents to espionage, serving in British intelligence. She lived many lives — artist, spy, aristocrat, and cultural connector — but was always herself: daring, original, and unapologetically independent. Her story, long hidden in the margins of history, comes vividly to life in this audiobook, wonderfully narrated by Dorothea Myer-Benett who also played Elizabeth in the Drama Documentary based on the book, reminding us that rebels don’t always ride into battle — sometimes they play the piano.

© 2025 Wittington America Ltd (Audiobook): 9798218677985

Release date

Audiobook: 19 May 2025