Overview

Imagine being married to a spy. Imagine keeping the big secret and moving your family from country to country to country. How does it all work? In this entertaining memoir, Lillian McCloy shares stories from her life as the wife of an undercover CIA officer. It's an eye-opening and often humorous tale about the CIA, marriage, family, secrets, friendships, international adventures, and the meaning of home. ""A charming and unusual portrait of the secret life."" - JOHN LE CARRE´, author of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ""Lillian McCloy reveals the intrigue, danger, and humor of clandestine life in her thoroughly entertaining account of a CIA family's nomadic lifestyle. Few living in the U.S. will ever encounter the unique trials and tribulations of the McCloy family, but what a fascinating read it is!"" - ALAN B. TRABUE, CIA (Ret.), author of A Life of Lies and Spies ""If you're married to a spy, the always fraught arena of a relationship turns into a positive minefield. What does that all-night absence mean? What can you begin to say to the kids? Lillian McCloy gives us the story of a life spent around secret intelligence that is funny and charming and in every wonderful sense, deeply spooky."" - PICO IYER, author of Video Night in Kathmandu and The Art of Stillness

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9780997596304

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If you're married to a spy, the always fraught arena of a relationship turns into a positive minefield. What does that all-night absence mean? What can you begin to say to the kids? In Six Car Lengths Behind an Elephant, Lillian McCloy gives us the story of a life spent around secret intelligence that is funny and charming and in every wonderful sense, deeply spooky. This is the story John le Carre keeps out of his gripping bestsellers. - Pico Iyer, author of The Art of Stillness and Video Nights in Kathmandu We've all read the romanticized accounts of a CIA officer's life overseas. Rarely do we ever get to read about the spy's family. Six Car Lengths Behind an Elephant by Lillian McCloy is an engrossing, decades-long memoir of foreign life under deep cover for the CIA. McCloy reveals the intrigue, danger and humor of clandestine life in her thoroughly entertaining account of a CIA family's nomadic lifestyle. Few living in the U.S. will ever encounter the unique trials and tribulations of the McCloy family, but what a fascinating read it is! - Alan B. Trabue, CIA (Ret.), author of A Life of Lies and Spies

It's charming, often troubling, and sometimes hilarious, and it's altogether a fascinating read. -Berkeleyside . . . while the tale reveals the complexity and challenges of a spy family's lifestyle, McCloy tells it with generous doses of humor and candor. Indeed, throughout the memoir, McCloy shares a multitude of odd, eye-opening and incredible tales with inimitable wit and fortitude. -BOOMER Magazine Lillian McCloy is a talented writer . . . her story is absolutely fascinating . . . a particularly exciting read . . . definitely recommended! - Expat Focus McCloy is a brilliant storyteller, sharing honest emotions without becoming sentimental. Her husband's new assignments required learning to live in new and diverse cultures and often created palpable tension. Sometimes I had to remind myself this is not a novel, it's Lillian's life. Wow! - Story Circle Book Reviews The blend of humor, practical information, and country-hopping adventure maintains a fast pace, bringing many thought-provoking moments. Six Car Lengths Behind an Elephant should be welcomed by readers interested in overseas adventures, the realities of a spy's family, and how families adapt to living in foreign countries. - Midwest Book Review

"""It's charming, often troubling, and sometimes hilarious, and it's altogether a fascinating read."" -Berkeleyside ""Six Lengths Behind An Elephant was endorsed by John le Carré as 'A charming and unusual portrait of the secret life.' He was spot on."" - Studies in Intelligence (a CIA publication) "" . . . while the tale reveals the complexity and challenges of a spy family's lifestyle, McCloy tells it with generous doses of humor and candor. Indeed, throughout the memoir, McCloy shares a multitude of odd, eye-opening and incredible tales with inimitable wit and fortitude."" -BOOMER Magazine ""Lillian McCloy is a talented writer . . . her story is absolutely fascinating . . . a particularly exciting read . . . definitely recommended!"" - Expat Focus ""McCloy is a brilliant storyteller, sharing honest emotions without becoming sentimental. Her husband's new assignments required learning to live in new and diverse cultures and often created palpable tension. Sometimes I had to remind myself this is not a novel, it's Lillian's life. Wow!"" - Story Circle Book Reviews ""The blend of humor, practical information, and country-hopping adventure maintains a fast pace, bringing many thought-provoking moments. Six Car Lengths Behind an Elephant should be welcomed by readers interested in overseas adventures, the realities of a spy's family, and how families adapt to living in foreign countries."" - Midwest Book Review"

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