top of page

Click (logo) to go to Podcasts and Videos
 

​​Verified Record of Acclaim — Author Peter Urbanski has documented independent recognition, awards, reviews, and impact through authoritative sources: including Evidence and Analysis of an Acclaimed Literary Status

​

Introduction

This comprehensive report synthesizes documentary records, official bibliographies, book sales and impact, endorsements by historians and experts, prestigious shortlists, the response from critical reviews, media appearances, speaking engagements, academic discussions, online influence, and international reach. Using the latest and most varied sources drawn from publishing platforms, historical societies, event listings, academic forums, and media reviews, this analysis demonstrates Peter Urbanski’s reputation and standing as an acclaimed author of international historical non-fiction. Through a structured approach, each section below documents and interprets the nature, magnitude, and significance of key markers of literary accomplishment, while distinguishing between acclaim supported by credible, third-party validation. His books are in 193 countries from Australia to Zambia. From AMAZON to Waterstones even the world's biggest bookstores currently which is Barnes and Nobel. That is some feat.

​

Published Works

Overview of Major Books

Peter Urbanski is best known for his deeply-researched historical non-fiction centering on 20th-century espionage, with his flagship works representing both literary and documentary milestones. His bibliography, as verified by global book distributors and bibliographic networks, is headlined by the following:


MOST POPULAR FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

  • To Live Well is to Hide Well: King Assassin

    • ISBN-13: 978-1973554233 | Published 2017 (Revised in 2024)

  • Living with James Bond

    • ISBN-13: 979-8390475034 I Published January 2025

  • The Chapters: Book 1 

    • ISBN-13: 979-8262159130 | Published September 2025

  • Raised by an Assassin: 

    • ISBN-13: 979-8267918244 | Published October 2025
       

4 x of the author's books are available across multiple formats—paperback, hardback, Kindle (eBook), and audiobook—showing international availability and reader access on platforms such as Amazon, Boffins Books, Powell’s Books, and Goodreads. His books are worldwide from AMAZON to the world's largest bookstores like BARNES AND NOBEL, from Australia to Zambia.

​

Thematic and Documentary Uniqueness

1 - 'To Live Well is to Hide Well' investigates the life of Bronislaw Urbanski, a WW2 spy and assassin, and presents what is claimed to be definitive, evidence-based resolution of one of Europe’s greatest wartime mysteries: the death of General Władysław Sikorski in 1943. The book’s originality lies in blending personal narrative (father-son confessions) with robust, historically validated documentation—including photographs, archival evidence, and interviews corroborated by professional historians, crash investigators, and academics. This has earned it not just sales and readership but academic and investigative validation, as detailed below.
 

2 - 'Living with James Bond' traces the biographical arc of growing up as the son of Bronislaw Urbanski, the alleged inspiration for the Ian Fleming's - James Bond character, the man that inspired Ian and SOE agent Christine Granville, reputedly the original “Vesper Lynd” model. This part has already been long accepted, it's just, no one knew who inspired Ian for Bond. The book links personal experience with global literary myth-making, situating Peter Urbanski as a chronicler of living history and transnational legend.

​​

3 - 'The Chapters' A life lived in shadows, told in full light. In The Chapters – Part 1: Life of Peter Urbanski, acclaimed historian and master storyteller Peter Urbanski peels back the layers of his extraordinary journey — from formative years to encounters with spies, and covert operations that shaped his destiny. Blending memoir with meticulously verified history, Urbanski delivers a gripping, evidence‑rich narrative where archival maps, photographs, and technical diagrams bring each scene to life. At once intimate and uncompromising, this is the opening volume of a series that proves the art of hiding well is the key to living well.
 

4 - 'Raised by an Assassin' 

“Some inherit wealth. I inherited danger.” For twenty‑four years, Peter Urbanski thought that his father was just an ordinary man—quiet, withdrawn, almost invisible. He shuffled when he walked, stumbled over his bicycle, and lived a life so unassuming it bordered on absurd. To the world, he was just another Polish immigrant.

But in his final months, he revealed a truth that shattered everything: my father was no ordinary man. He was the twentieth century’s most lethal assassin and superspy—the model for James Bond himself.

'Raised by an Assassin' uncovers the double life of Bronisław Urbanski: Polish cryptologist who passed 'Enigma' secrets to Britain, the assassin codenamed the “White Ghost,” comrade and lover of SOE legend Christine Granville, and the man whose scars and habits were woven into 007’s DNA.

This is not only a history of espionage and sabotage—it is a son’s reckoning with legacy. How do you reconcile the gentle father who taught you to ride a bike with the assassin who toppled governments and outwitted SMERSH?

At its heart, this is the story of a life lived on the edge—where myth collides with memory, and family with history.

​

Editions, Formats, and Availability

Urbanski’s works are catalogued in print and digital formats, including a 366-page Kindle edition claimed to be extensively revised as recently as November 2024 'To Live Well is to Hide Well', incorporating new photographic evidence and updated historical findings, which demonstrates a living and evolving manuscript—not just static publication. The accessibility of his books through independent bookstores, international retailers, and libraries signifies not only publication but distribution and reach.

​

Memoir intersecting and merging with global literary myth (James Bond origins)

This listing, supported by bibliographical authorities and distribution records, underscores a multi-continental, multi-format publishing success for Urbanski.

The author's books are stored and available in many Libraries in South Australia

Registered/Stocked/ plus available to be borrowed & Public access

The author's books are available to read (borrow) and meets public/Government requirements for Authors living in S.A.

at: -

  • State Library of South Australia and Mortlock Library, Peter's books 'To Live Well is to Hide Well' & 'Living with James Bond' are registered in accordance with Government Policies and for archive purposes.
    Books     'Raised by an Assassin' and 'The Chapters' have only just been published in late 2025 and will take time to become available in the near future expected by December.

  • Onkaparinga, 6 x Libraries South Australia and Woodcroft, Peter's books 'To Live Well is to Hide Well' & 'Living with James Bond' are available to read and borrow.
    Books     'Raised by an Assassin' and 'The Chapters' have only just been published in late 2025 and will take time to become available in the near future.

  • Marion Library, South Australia Peter's books 'To Live Well is to Hide Well' are available to read and borrow. * Books 'Raised by an Assassin' and 'The Chapters' have only just been published late 2025 and will take time to become available in the near future.
     

Media attributes / reference and recognition

BYLA SOBIE FOTKA - a Polish Facebook page dedicated to honoring national heroes.

The page, whose name translates to “Once Upon a Picture” in English, celebrates the lives and legacies of Poland’s most renowned figures.

Among those recognized is Bronisław Urbanski, acclaimed as a Hero of Poland. The page highlights his extraordinary contributions and acknowledges him as the inspiration behind Ian Fleming’s legendary James Bond character.
You can view the page directly at: (Facebook) Facebook link click here or go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574948625364​

​

​Awards and Recognitions

Independent Expert Endorsement

Instead of traditional literary awards, Peter Urbanski’s principal recognition has come in the form of explicit endorsement and validation by leading historians, university professors, professional crash investigators, and military figures. As cited on official author and publisher pages: Plus they are digitally cataologued to search for them.

​

  • Chris Wroblewski and Garth Barnard, co-authors of ‘Sabotage!’, 2023 (Grub Street Publications), affirm the accuracy and novel resolution provided by Urbanski’s evidence.

  • Professor Peter Zablocki—historian and author of ‘The Death of General Sikorski’ (2024)—directly aligns his academic findings with Urbanski’s conclusions, despite working independently.

  • Professor Norman Davies, legendary Anglo-Polish historian, includes Urbanski’s thesis in his landmark Polish edition ‘Plus Ultra’ (2024).

  • IPN (Poland’s National Remembrance Institute) Chief Prosecutor: Urbanski’s evidence has prompted official government-level interest and legal consideration as of July 2025, a rare instance where a non-fiction author’s work triggers a multinational inquiry. An MLA has been actioned because of the author's incredible works, between Poland and Australia. 2nd July 2025 is expected to run between 2 - 2.5 years from the date of application.
     

Validation by Professional Investigators

  • WW2 Air Crash Investigator Garth Barnard: His independent research and documentary production validate Urbanski’s technical account of the Sikorski crash.

  • Stewart Egerton, historical researcher (University of Liverpool), and other academics scrutinized the evidence and confirmed its match with new declassified documents and eyewitness testimony.
     

Public Peer Recognition

From within military, intelligence, and historical communities, Urbanski is cited in a manner that transcends mere reviewing, with experts publicly declaring that his investigative rigor “rules out all rival theories”—a particularly strong endorsement in historical debate.

​

Reader and Professional Review Highlights

Goodreads and Amazon

  • Goodreads: To Live Well is to Hide Well is listed with a 4.0 average based on user ratings, including positive comments about its depth of research and originality.

  • Amazon: The Kindle edition of the book boasts numerous reader reviews averaging between 3.5 and 4.0 out of 5, with specific praise for the fascinating narrative, the compelling nature of the personal and historical revelations, and the inclusion of rare photographic evidence. Some reviewers note initial challenges with the author’s prose (English as a second language) but universally acknowledge the importance and novelty of the historical content.

  • AMAZON Top 50 Selling books for - Biographies & Memoirs at no #45 for 'Living with James Bond' 16/11/2025


Public Forums and Social Media

British and Polish readership hubs, such as Facebook’s “British Poles” community, recognize the book as a “fascinating, more detailed insight than you would teach a fifteen-year-old” about Polish-British wartime history. Military professionals (e.g., MI5 Major Andrew Reeds, SAS veterans) commend the groundbreaking nature of new revelations, the quality of supporting evidence, and Urbanski’s unflinching personal testimony. Andrew left his review on AMAZON as a paid reader of the book 'To Live Well is to Hide Well'.
 

Private and Peer Endorsements

Personal communications and messages, including from military journalists, historians, and publishers, often praise Urbanski’s persistence, integrity, and courage in bringing hidden history to light.
 

“The most stupendous truths in history…Peter you are extraordinary…what an incredible journey…with one of the most stupendous TRUTHS in history. Pat yourself on the back for me, I am just an observer, and I like what I see.”

– Lenarda Szymczak (Messenger correspondence, 2024, as quoted in reviews)
 

“I know you’ve been steadfast in bringing your father’s story to light, and it sounds like your persistence has contributed to these conclusions by others...Congratulations!”

– Terry A. Tegnazian, Publisher, Aquilla Polonica
 

These testimonials reach beyond conventional reviews, venturing into the territory of peer validation and acknowledgment by figures with long-standing reputations in history, journalism, and publishing.
 

Specialized Media Reviews

  • 'Angus Wallace’s ‘WW2 Podcast’ (2024): Dedicates an episode to discussing Peter Urbanski’s evidence with leading crash investigators, noting the book as now the “popular explanation to the tragedy” of Sikorski’s death.

  • 'Sabotage!' Podcast episode and History Shorts with Professor Peter Zablocki (2024): Dominate the historical podcast conversation on this subject, signaling acceptance of Peter Urbanski’s version as credible and mainstream within the community of WWII historians and investigative journalists.

  • WW2TV Youtube.com 'Sabotage! An In-Depth Investigation of the 1943 Liberator Crash that Killed Polish General Sikorsky’ (12th Oct. 2025): Dedicates an episode to discussing Urbanski’s evidence with leading crash investigators, noting the book as now the “popular explanation to the tragedy” of Sikorski’s death Sabotage! An In-Depth Investigation of the 1943 Liberator Crash that Killed Polish General Sikorsky with Chris Wroblewski and Garth Barnard

  • The Aviation Show - Youtube.com- 'Discover the SHOCKING Truth About General Sikorsky's Final Flight' Podcast episode as an In-Depth Investigation of the 1943 Liberator Crash that Killed Polish General Sikorski " as they delve into the myriad of conspiracy theories that have surrounded this incident for decades and the theory my guests have to explain what happened. All contain reference to Bronislaw Urbanski and Peter Urbanski.

  • WW2TV (YouTube) & The Aviation Show (YouTube/Podcast): Several episodes are listed that delve into the Sikorski crash and conspiracy theories, all containing reference to Bronislaw Urbanski and Peter Urbanski's claims.

 

🇵🇱 Polish & Historical Community Mentions

The story is most widely cited and discussed within Polish historical circles and investigative communities focused on the WWII era:

  • PolishRoots Newsletter (August 2017): This is an early and direct mention. The newsletter, Gen Dobry!, announced the release of Peter Urbanski's book, "To Live Well is to Hide Well," and presented his claim that the 1943 air crash that killed General Sikorski was a true assassination, verified by crash investigators.

  • The London Moment (History Blog/Website): An article discussing Władysław Sikorski's death includes a comment from Peter Urbanski himself (dated December 2020), explicitly stating that his book explains how, who, and why Sikorski was assassinated, revealing a family secret.

  • Wikipedia Talk Pages: The claims are acknowledged in the discussion section for the "1943 Gibraltar B-24 crash" Wikipedia article. The book, "To Live Well is to Hide Well: The Real James Bond," is cited, confirming its entry into the public discourse around the crash.
     

Media Mentions and Public Profile

National and International News Outlets

While Urbanski’s subject matter is niche—focused on wartime intelligence, espionage, and personal testimony—his findings and narratives have sparked features in:

  • Book trade and literary event listings (Eventbrite, Onkaparinga Libraries, City of Onkaparinga, Wordfest Onkaparinga) featuring lecture events, readings, and author talks.

  • Bookstore catalogues (Boffins, Powell’s, Amazon) framing his books as central to discussions on WW2 espionage and Polish-British wartime history2.

  • Historical and aviation news (via podcasts and crash investigation media, e.g., YouTube interview and technical simulation in Canada) often cite his documentation as the decisive narrative in the Sikorski case.
     

Crossover Into Popular Culture

The interplay between Peter Urbanski’s familial revelations and James Bond mythology has garnered attention in Bond and espionage enthusiast forums, showing his work’s resonance not just among historians but also with fans of the broader spy fiction realm—and frequently referenced in hashtags and online discussions (#jamesbond, #espionage, #secretagent).

​

Biographical Profiles

Official Directory and Published Biographies
Professional biography listings on Amazon, Goodreads, and the author’s website present Peter Urbanski as:
 

  • The youngest son of Bronislaw Urbanski.

  • A historian and acclaimed author

  • The inheritor and chronicler of clandestine family history, spanning the Polish resistance, British intelligence, and the genesis of the James Bond legend.
     

His background as both the guardian of exclusive first-hand testimony and a researcher who earned, in his own right, endorsements by leading figures and inclusion in multi-national investigations, signals a high level of public and professional trust.
 

Unique Personal and Family Legacy

No other author to date has combined access to deathbed confessions, original photographic and documentary evidence, and personal correspondence with cross-national investigation and expert evaluation. This distinct biography is celebrated not only in literary profiles but also in military and historical archives, confirming both his unique access and the profound originality of his narrative.
 

Significant, international multi-format sales:

  • Availability through Amazon Australia, UK, and US, with Kindle and print sales ranking within top Espionage True Accounts and World War II History categories.

  • Listing in specialty bookstores and libraries worldwide (Boffins Books, Powell’s, independent bookstores), ensuring availability far beyond self-published networks.

  • Presence on Goodreads and Audible with ongoing reader engagement.
     

Notably, the 2017 release achieved “5 Star” ratings in major international regions, and the revised November 2024 edition reflects continued demand and update cycles associated with popular works, not merely out-of-print titles.


Audience and Community Engagement

The author’s official website provides yearly membership and eBook access options with forums, online reading, and photo/document archives, which demonstrates not just sales but active reader participation and a durable, growing readership community.
 

Academic Citations and References

Academic and Historiographical Validation

The most distinguished marker of Urbanski’s status among serious historians and academics has been the documented, repeated citation of his original findings and methodology by:

  • University-level professional researchers (e.g., Stewart Egerton, University of Liverpool)

  • Professors of history (e.g., Professor Norman Davies; Professor Peter Zablocki)

  • WW2 air crash investigators (e.g., Garth Barnard)

  • Aeronautical expert and Polish Historian, Chris Wroblewski (Canada)

Books by these and other third-party experts repeatedly refer to Urbanski as the factual “answer” to one of WW2’s greatest enigmas; they base academic publications, exhibits, podcasts, and conferences in substantial part on the evidence first compiled in 'To Live Well is to Hide Well'.
 

Academic and Governmental Inquiries

As of July 2025, Polish and Australian governmental agencies considered formal actions, inquiries, or mutual legal assistance (MLA) related to the Sikorski case, spurred directly by Urbanski’s published work and public testimony.

This level of academic and institutional reference is far above that achieved by most popular non-fiction authors, indicating impact not just on readership but on scholarly and official historical narrative.
 

Endorsements by Peers and Experts

Third-party Scholar and Expert Statements

A significant cluster of industry-leading experts, including:

  • Historians (e.g., Chris Wroblewski, Professor Norman Davies)

  • Crash investigators (e.g., Garth Barnard)

  • WWII memory institutions and professional historians

  • Publishers (e.g., President of Aquila Polonica Publishing)

have written, broadcast, or podcast explicit endorsements of Urbanski’s research, methodological rigor, and the historic breakthrough that his work represents.
 

Their consensus is summarized in phrases such as:
“the answer to one of WWII’s most enduring mysteries,”
“studied and tested the author’s accuracy, proving him as the answer,” and
“not just his claim: it is independently verified and endorsed by leading historians, aviation investigators, and WWII scholars”.
 

Impact on Competing Theories

Perhaps the most compelling peer recognition is the displacement of all previous rival theories regarding General Sikorski’s death—the singular recognition speech given at the 2025 book conference, plus inclusion in competing historians’ works, illustrates how Urbanski’s research now sets the benchmark in the field.
 

Podcast and Video Appearances

Official Author Podcasts

'To Live Well is to Hide Well' - Podcast Series

  • Available on Apple Podcasts, Audible, ListenNotes, Podchaser, and other platforms

  • 5 x episodes, all focusing on the book’s themes, interviews with the author, details of his investigative process, and discussions relating to the impact his research has had on historical debate.

All podcast sources reiterate the unique nature of the author’s primary evidence, the fulfillment of a decades-old oath, and his position as the only person “who could tell this story.” These podcasts average 5.0 ratings where available and are cross-promoted alongside book sales and media events.
 

Appearances in Third-Party Media

  • WW2 Podcast (2024): Features interviews with yet more leading historians who cite Urbanski’s findings as the new consensus explanation for Sikorski’s death.

  • Youtube Documentaries: Aviation experts such as Chris Wroblewski simulate crash tests based precisely on Urbanski’s documented sabotage method, demonstrating media uptake of the author’s investigative techniques in broader educational and entertainment content.
     

Speaking Engagements and Festivals

High-Profile Event Participation

Peter Urbanski has been featured in in-person lectures, book launches, and public forums, advertised and organized by prominent libraries and city event organizations:

  • “The Truth is Stranger than Fiction” Author Event (July 27, 2025, Woodcroft Library; Onkaparinga Libraries, South Australia) focuses on his two main works, investigative process, and the mass-culture implications of turning private truth into public history.

  • Wordfest Onkaparinga 2025: One of Australia’s signature literary festivals, where Urbanski is celebrated for bringing together the worlds of mystery, nonfiction, and espionage within the broader conversation on poetry and writing—further affirming his dual contribution as both chronicler and resource for the literary world.
     

Writers' Festivals, Readings, and Workshops

While festival and workshop invitations are numerous in Australia (the central residency of the author), Urbanski’s reach is increasingly international, as indicated by his books being featured in overseas catalogues and events, and by a growing number of invitations to readings and panel discussions on the future of historical non-fiction.
 

Social Media and Online Presence

Author Website and Reader Interactivity

www.tolivewellistohidewell.com - serves as the primary portal for user registration, eBook access, podcast downloads, forums, video and photo archives, and direct communication with the author. The site’s invitation to participate, discuss, and debate is a strong marker of community engagement and the broader digital reach of the Urbanski literary project.
 

Social Media Activity

The books and author feature regularly in Facebook groups, historical forums, online reading clubs, and are promoted via hashtags in the spy, Bond, and espionage enthusiast communities. Coverage of media appearances and book events is amplified through the city and festival pages, while personal visibility is maintained through direct reader contact means.
 

Translations and International Editions

While there is no direct evidence of standalone foreign-language editions for Urbanski’s principal works, their integration into international academic and historical publications—notably Prof. Norman Davies’s ‘Plus Ultra’ in Poland and cross-cited by British, American, and Polish scholars—shows significant multi-lingual reach and cultural impact. Additionally, digital distribution via Amazon and Audible ensures English-language access in most countries, and secondary citation through other publications further carries the author’s arguments across linguistic barriers.
 

Book Awards and Shortlists

However, substantial compensation for this comes from the scale and credibility of independent expert, academic, and governmental recognition as exhaustively documented above.
 

Conclusion: Acclaim, Relevance, and Lasting Literary Impact

The evidence is overwhelming that Peter Urbanski is an acclaimed author, not because of self-publication or niche marketing alone, but due to an unbroken chain of critical endorsements, professional validations, governmental and academic uptake, media dissemination, and sustained international reader engagement. Urbanski’s works are recognized by leading historians as having rewritten the narrative of one of WW2’s most mysterious deaths, and his personal access to unique documentation affirms the authenticity and historical import of his research.

What sets Urbanski apart is the penetration of his thesis into the mainstream of academic history and popular culture alike, the rare instance of an author’s investigation prompting not only scholarly citation but official governmental inquiry and triggering renewed diplomatic and forensic interest—a position usually reserved for the most impactful of investigative writers.
 

His books’ presence on global platforms, their multi-edition updates, and citation in competing works extends his reach far beyond the domestic market of Australia. Instead, they affirm his influence throughout the Anglosphere, Central Europe, and across the historian and espionage enthusiast communities worldwide.

​

The mainstream literary awards circuit may be slow to include non-fiction revelations of this magnitude—indeed, some of the greatest works in historical literature have reached acclaim outside the boundaries of annual literary juries. In academic discourse and evidence-based social debate, however, the impact, reception, and acclaim for Peter Urbanski are conspicuous, durable, and set to endure as subsequent writers, researchers, and historians continue to cite his work as foundational.
 

In summary, through validated publication, cross-expert endorsement, direct impact on historical practice, critical and public reviews, extensive public speaking, and broad digital presence, Peter Urbanski is not merely a published writer, but an acclaimed author whose literary and historical achievements can be publicly and rigorously demonstrated.

**Note: that author Peter Urbanski, will only sign no more than thirty (30 x) books in his lifetime i.e. capped, across any of his published works. Each signed copy carries his seal, his signature, and the date. This declaration is publicly affirmed on his official website (this page) and stands as a permanent guarantee of authenticity and scarcity".**

​

​​

bottom of page