Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your overall reaction to Operation Mincemeat? Were you more drawn to the intricate details of the espionage plot, the personalities of the intelligence officers, or the military-political context?

2. Ben Macintyre has written several popular histories about espionage, including The Spy and the Traitor and Agent Zigzag. If you’ve read any of his other works, how did this book compare? If not, how does it stack up against other nonfiction books or spy thrillers you’ve enjoyed?

3. Did you find the book more compelling as a historical account of a specific WWII operation or as a literary exploration of how stories and deception can shape reality? Why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The planners essentially act as novelists, crafting a detailed backstory for Major Martin with “wallet litter” like love letters and an overdraft notice. What items do you carry, and why are they significant? What story would the items in your own wallet or bag tell about you if they were found and analyzed?

2. The book delves into the complex moralities of wartime. The intelligence officers used a man’s body without his family’s consent for what they saw as a greater good. When have you had to weigh up an ethical dilemma? What did you decide and how did/do you feel about your choice?

3. The guide describes the ideal intelligence officer as having a “corkscrew mind,” capable of unorthodox and creative thinking. When have you used unconventional problem-solving? Did it work, and what did you learn?

4. How does the German command’s susceptibility to “wishfulness” and “yesmanship,” or their tendency to believe what they wanted to be true. Think of places, such as work or social groups, where these dynamics have played out in your own life. How did this affect you?

5. After the war, Ewen Montagu embraced the spotlight by writing The Man Who Never Was, while Charles Cholmondeley retreated into anonymity. In what ways does your own personality determine your approach to possible publicity or recognition, and how has this shaped your choices?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What does the contrast between Glyndwr Michael’s impoverished life and the privileged, intellectual world of the MI5 officers reveal about the British class system during the 1940s? How did this make you feel?

2. Operation Mincemeat’s success hinged on providing the German high command with a story that confirmed their existing biases about where the Allies would strike. How does this historical example of targeted disinformation inform your perspective on the spread of “fake news” today?

3. The operation reveals the crucial, often hidden, roles that individuals in supporting positions played, from secretaries like Jean Leslie and Hester Leggett to the submarine commander Bill Jewell. What does the story suggest about the different forms of heroism and contribution during wartime?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the partnership between the creative, eccentric Charles Cholmondeley and the pragmatic, organized Ewen Montagu drive the narrative? 

2. How does Macintyre create a sense of London, and in particular Room 13, as the center of power in 1940s Britain?

3. What role does the “Trout Memo’s” fly-fishing metaphor play throughout the book? How does it help you understand the philosophy behind British intelligence and their approach to deceiving the enemy?

4. How does Macintyre build suspense and tension in a story where the historical outcome is already known? Which moments did you find most suspenseful?

5. Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, had the basic idea for the operation. How does the reality of espionage depicted in Operation Mincemeat, with its meticulous bureaucracy and reliance on mundane details, contrast with the glamorous portrayal of spying in popular fiction?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Glyndwr Michael is now recognized on his gravestone, and Operation Mincemeat acts as a literary testament to his involvement. Create your own memorial to Michael, whether this is poetic, visual, or musical. In what ways does it reflect his life and posthumous impact?

2. Much of the story is told from the British perspective. Write a scene in Berlin when Karl-Erich Kühlenthal, desperate to impress his superiors, presents the “absolutely convincing” documents from Major Martin’s briefcase. What might he have been thinking and feeling?

3. If you were tasked with creating a new “Major Martin” for a modern-day deception, what five items would you place in the person’s pocket, phone, or laptop to create an equally convincing but contemporary backstory?