Citations:legend

sense: fabricated backstory for spy

• 1992, Ronald Kessler, Inside the CIA, 1994 Pocket Books edition, →ISBN, page 115:

  If the documents are needed to establish "a light legend," meaning a superficial cover story, no steps are taken to make sure that if someone calls the college or motor vehicle department, the name on the document will be registered.

• 2003, Rodney Carlisle, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spies and Espionage, Alpha Books, →ISBN, page 105:

  Sorge solidified his own position by returning to Germany and developing a new legend. He joined the Nazi Party […] .

• 2005, Curtis Peebles, Twilight Warriors, Naval Institute Press, →ISBN, page 25:

  Both the agent's legend and documents were intended to stand up against casual questions from Soviet citizens, such as during a job interview, or a routine police document check, such as were made at railway stations.