The Spy and the Traitor

This is a Cold War espionage story of Oleg Gordievsky. He is a Russian KGB spy but when he gets deployed to Denmark, after getting his first taste of democracy, he realizes just how much Russia suppresses his people which leads him to secretly contact the British MI6. Thus begins the breathtaking and extremely risky story of loyalty, betrayal and suspense. Gordievsky is a spy of the likes of Kim Philby and with his intelligence has greatly helped Britain. This story is amazing and worth reading, it gives you so much insight on the amount of risk and adventure involved in any spy story and the way Ben Macintire narrates the story makes you want to know what happens next constantly. This story does not require you to know a lot of cold war history. This was the first Macintire book I read and I am definitely looking forward to reading more. There are absolutely no cons when reading this book, so seriously, what are you waiting for?

Now here’s a book they should make a movie about. Gripping story that really gives you an understanding of what goes on in the Soviet Union. It’s every man for himself. Lies, deception, and it doesn’t matter who gets trampled in the quest to get ahead. Terrible way to live. Oleg is a hero in my book.

In the brief wrap up of the last chapter, it would have been good to know whether Oleg has any contact with his adult daughters, who were educated in England and still live there. A search online reveals that he has a female companion now and is not living alone. Leila divides her time between Russia and England. This book is currently being reviewed in British newspapers. Searches for Viscount Roy Ascot draw blanks, so this name also is likely an alias. It reads as a play-on-words for the famous horse race, Royal Ascot. Perhaps the real aristocrat in MI6 owned horses and bred them. Roy is not a name generally used among aristocrats.

🕵️‍♀️ An excellent book, with great storytelling. One has to wonder, though, how much difference the sideshow of spies and intelligence really makes in the final analysis. Remember, when the USSR collapsed, the CIA had just issued a report predicting that it would just keep getting bigger and badder for the foreseeable future. Taken by surprise, they had to watch it on CNN with the rest of us.

Excellent book - puts many fiction writers to shame. An amazing story (true) well written.

I read a lot of spy novels and this was one of the best. Except it's nonfiction.

Wow!!

brilliant. Can't put it down. Finished in 3 days.

A most remarkable story of a spy's life. Written by the UK's Time columnist and Associated Editor, the author had personal interviews with his subject and the M16 people who planned and helped Oleg's tension filled escape from Russia. Includes notes, photos, and bibliography.

Ben Macintyre - The spy and the traitor - The greatest espionage story ofthe cold war

The greatest espionage story I have read so far, which give me insight in many historical events like Margaret Thatcher vs Michael Foot , Ronald Reagan's policy against USSR , Gorbachev etc