Stalin's Romeo Spy [Kindle Edition]

'A larger-than-life figure. Extraordinarily handsome, sophisticated and highly resourceful... An ideal poster boy to inspire coming generations of Russian spies... One thing seems clear: the old habits of Russia s security and intelligence services die hard.' --The Times Literary Supplement

'Captivating... Stalin's Romeo Spy deserves the attention of anyone interested in the history of the Soviet intelligence services or the history of intelligence in general. Draitser's account reminds us of the feats of espionage the Soviet services were able to accomplish when they set aside all scruples... The book is a reminder of what we need to watch for.' --CIA, Studies in Intelligence

'This extraordinary biography...is gripping, entertaining and immensely formative. An invaluable memoir for understanding the workings of Soviet intelligence' Russian Life Magazine. -- 'Bystrolyotov was a remarkable spy even by the standards of an era when much of the world was crawling with intelligence agents... It is impossible to read Stalin s Romeo Spy without reflecting on the cruel and capricious nature of totalitarian regimes.' --The Wall Street Journal.

'Captivating and - worthwhile. 'Stalin's Romeo Spy.' deserves the attention of anyone interested in the history of the Soviet intelligence services or the history of intelligence in general. Draitser's account reminds us of the feats of espionage the Soviet services were able to accomplish when they set aside all scruples. Given that human nature is changeless and that ruthless regimes still remain in the world-not to mention that we now know conclusively that Moscow continues to use illegals against us-the book is a reminder of what we need to watch for.' CIA - Studies in Intelligence 'Dmitri Bystrolyotov, a spy for Stalin's foreign intelligence service in the 1920s and 30s, was, by all accounts, a larger-than-life figure. Extraordinarily handsome, sophisticated and highly resourceful, he was well suited to the job of being a secret agent in Europe between the World Wars. - An ideal "poster boy" to inspire coming generations of Russian spies - The story of the group of spies who were sent back to Russia from the United States in June is still unfolding, but one thing seems clear: the old habits of Russia's security and intelligence services die hard.'The Times Literary Supplement 'There is no doubt ... that Bystrolyotov was a remarkable spy even by the standards of an era when much of the world was crawling with intelligence agents... It is impossible to read 'Stalin's Romeo Spy' without reflecting on the cruel and capricious nature of totalitarian regimes and without noting that, however good a spy may be, espionage is only as effective as the ability of political leaders to sort through the information they are handed.'The Wall Street Journal

A sailor, artist, lawyer, and writer, fluent in many languages, Bystrolyotov was one of a team of outstanding Soviet spies operating in Western countries between the world wars. He was a dashing man whose Modus Operandi was the seduction of women - among them a French embassy employee, the wife of a British official, and a disfigured Gestapo officer. He stole military secrets from Nazi Germany Fascist Italy and enabled Stalin to lookinto the diplomatic pouches of many European countries. Idealistically committed to the Motherland, he showed extraordinary courage and physical prowess - twice crossing the Sahara Desert and the jungles of the Congo. But in 1938, at the height of Stalin's purges, Bystrolyotov was arrested and tortured. Sentenced to twenty years of hard labour in the Gulag, he risked more severe punishment by documenting the regime's crimes against humanity. With amazing stamina, he survived the repression and came to realise the true nature of the ideology he once served unquestioningly.

Emil Draitser is an award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction. In 1974, he immigrated to the United States, where he has been a professor of Russian at Hunter College in New York City since 1986. In addition to his twelve books, Draitser has published essays and short stories in the Los Angeles Times.