A thrilling Cold War story about a KGB double agent, by one of Britain's greatest historians - now with a new afterword
On a warm July evening in 1985, a middle-aged man stood on the pavement of a busy avenue in the heart of Moscow, holding a plastic carrier bag. In his grey suit and tie, he looked like any other Soviet citizen. The bag alone was mildly conspicuous, printed with the red logo of Safeway, the British supermarket.
The man was a spy. A senior KGB officer, for more than a decade he had supplied his British spymasters with a stream of priceless secrets from deep within the Soviet intelligence machine. No spy had done more to damage the KGB. The Safeway bag was a signal: to activate his escape plan to be smuggled out of Soviet Russia. So began one of the boldest and most extraordinary episodes in the history of spying. Ben Macintyre reveals a tale of espionage, betrayal and raw courage that changed the course of the Cold War forever...
The best true spy story I have ever read (John le Carré)
[A] captivating espionage tale. In a feat of real authorial dexterity, Macintyre accurately portrays the long-game banality of spycraft-the lead time and persistence in planning-with such clarity and propulsive verve that the book often feels like a thriller. Macintyre has produced a timely and insightful page-turner. (Publishers Weekly)
Meticulously researched, splendidly told, immensely entertaining and often very moving (John le Carré on 'Agent Zigzag')
Impeccably researched, superbly told - by far the best book on the SAS in World War II (Antony Beevor on 'SAS')
Thrilling. Ben Macintyre is the ideal narrator (Spectator on 'SAS')
Thorough and highly entertaining. It would be nigh on impossible to praise it too highly (Daily Express on 'SAS')
The Spy and the Traitor
The Spy and the Traitor
The best book I have read this year, those interested in Cold War history (Jim?) will enjoy!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: The Spy and the Traitor
Well that is certainly high praise...The best true spy story I have ever read (John le Carré)
Looks like a good summer read; I'll check it out.
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Re: The Spy and the Traitor
I'll look for it. But I have to say that holding a Safeway carrier bag in 1985 Moscow as a signal "I want out, MI6 pals" seems a bit obvious. If he was under some sort of suspicion you might think that he would avoid carrying a large colored symbol of the enemy. I enjoyed Mackintyre's Operation MIncemeat which was the story of a body plus bogus messages dumped into the Mediterranean in order to deceive the Nazis about the location and timing of the planned Italy landings.
Re: The Spy and the Traitor
I loved "mincemeat" too.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
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Re: The Spy and the Traitor
I seem to recall a book I read way back in my grade school days called "The Man Who Never Was" that detailed the "Mincemeat" operation. And I think they even made a big-screen movie out of it too.
-"BB"-
-"BB"-
Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?
Re: The Spy and the Traitor
I recall reading that one back when I was in High School as well.I seem to recall a book I read way back in my grade school days called "The Man Who Never Was" that detailed the "Mincemeat" operation.
Re: The Spy and the Traitor
I did as well. and. as I recall, the movie was pretty good (usually I don't like the movie if I read the book, but this was an exception).
Re: The Spy and the Traitor
I'm enjoying The Spy and the Traitor -- good recommendation, Gob!