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The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War Hardcover – 20 Sept. 2018

by Ben MacIntyre (Author)

4.7 27,752 ratings

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*Shortlisted for the 2018 Baillie Gifford Prize*
*Shortlisted for the Specsavers National Book Awards 2018*
*A top 10 Sunday Times bestseller*

'THE BEST TRUE SPY STORY I HAVE EVER READ' JOHN LE CARRÉ

A thrilling Cold War story about a KGB double agent, by one of Britain's greatest historians

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 for MI6. 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 espionage. In The Spy and the Traitor Ben Macintyre reveals a tale of betrayal, duplicity and raw courage that changed the course of the Cold War forever.

'Macintyre does true-life espionage better than anyone else. The Spy and the Traitor may well be his best book yet' Evening Standard

'A dazzling non-fiction thriller and an intimate portrait of high-stakes espionage' Guardian

'A real-life thriller, as tense as John le Carré's novels, or even Ian Fleming's' Economist

BEN MACINTYRE'S NEXT BOOK AGENT SONYA IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW

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Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Viking
Publication date

20 Sept. 2018
Dimensions

16.2 x 3.7 x 24 cm
ISBN-10

9780241186657
ISBN-13

978-0241186657
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Popular highlights in this book

What are Popular highlights?

For many years, the KGB used the acronym MICE to identify the four mainsprings of spying: Money, Ideology, Coercion and Ego.
Highlighted by 801 Kindle readers
Exploiting and manipulating that hunger for affection and affirmation is one of the most important skills of an agent-runner.
Highlighted by 578 Kindle readers
The problem with buttering up the boss is that bosses tend to move on, which can mean a lot of wasted butter.
Highlighted by 454 Kindle readers

From the Publisher

Ben Macintyre, Colditz, Agent Sonya, Spy and the Traitor, SAS Rogue Heroes


	Colditz	Agent Sonya	The Spy and The Traitor	SAS: Rogue Heroes

Customer Reviews	3,045	5,500	27,752	9,149
Price	£6.00	£6.29	£9.99	£9.19
About the Book	The astonishing true story of WW2's most infamous prison	The incredible story behind the greatest female spy in history	The greatest espionage story of the Cold War	The first ever authorised history of the SAS
Sunday Times Bestseller	✓	✓	✓	✓

Product description

Review

The best true spy story I have ever read -- John le Carré

Macintyre does true-life espionage better than anyone else. He has a remarkable ability to construct a narrative that is as taut and urgent as it is carefully nuanced. Here the pace never slackens and the focus never drifts, while Macintyre's insight into his subject's tangle of contradictions never loses its sharpness. It's a tough call, but The Spy and the Traitor may well be his best book yet. -- John Preston ― Evening Standard

A real-life thriller, as tense as John le Carré's novels, or even Ian Fleming's ― Economist

A dazzling non-fiction thriller and an intimate portrait of high-stakes espionage -- Luke Harding ― Guardian

[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

It has become a cliché to say that real-life spy stories read like John le Carré, but Gordievsky's personal history makes the comparison irresistible... Macintyre tells the story brilliantly. His book's final third is superbly done -- Dominic Sandbrook, Book of the Week ― Sunday Times

The fact that parts of The Spy and the Traitor read like a pacey thriller is a bonus, but it is based on serious research, including interviews with Gordievsky and anonymous British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) officers... This is a remarkable story of one man's courage, and of the skill of our much traduced security services. Ben Macintyre tells it very well indeed ― The Times, Book of the Week

You can always rely on this author to tease out fascinating details on the second oldest profession ― Sunday Express

Writing about cases of British espionage success that the public knows little about, he says - 'It takes an investigator of consummate talent and a narrator of equal skill to unearth one of these triumphs and explain it clearly. Ben Macintyre, who is both, has done exactly that. -- Frederick Forsyth ― Literary Review

Macintyre's account brings it to life in vivid technicolor with fascinating new details. He tells it with all the verve we have come to expect from such an accomplished writer ― Spectator

[An] exceptionally rewarding book ― Observer

He writes like a novelist, introducing richly drawn characters whose lives intersect with Gordievsky's. One of the last chapters is as tense as any thriller. No wonder Le Carré liked it ― Daily Express

Thrilling... A real heart-in-the-mouth book ― New Statesman

Reads like a thriller. . . truly nerve-jangling ― The Times Books of the Year

One of the most exciting things I have ever read -- George Osborne ― Evening Standard, Books of the Year

An impeccably researched, compelling read ― Independent

About the Author

Ben Macintyre is the multimillion-copybestselling author of books including Agent Zigzag, Operation Mincemeat and A Spy Among Friends. He is a columnist and Associate Editor at The Times, and has worked as the newspaper's correspondent in New York, Paris and Washington. He regularly presents BBC series based on his acclaimed books.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 024118665X
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking; First Edition (20 Sept. 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780241186657
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241186657
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.2 x 3.7 x 24 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 21,416 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 9 in Cold War History
- 19 in Russian Historical Biographies

Customer reviews:
4.7 27,752 ratings

About the author

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Ben Macintyre

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Ben Macintyre is a writer-at-large for The Times of London and the bestselling author of A Spy Among Friends, Double Cross, Operation Mincemeat, Agent Zigzag, and Rogue Heroes, among other books. Macintyre has also written and presented BBC documentaries of his work.

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4.7 out of 5

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David Bell

Well written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2024

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This book is so well written, the reader is guided through the large cast list without boredom and the description of the spycraft is very interesting. The explanation of the spy's effect on events I remember (the Thatcher/Gorbachev meetings, Michael Foot, the mass expulsions by the UK and Russia) is illuminating. The reader knows the result of the actual escape through Finland but it is gripping stuff.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2023

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I gave this book five stars because it was a page-turner. I have also read some of critical reviews and I do get at times that we have a KGB officer who is a good guy and a CIA operative who is just a greedy one.
Also, coming from Liverpool, I had to take a deep breath when reading about the Iron Lady and Jack Jones.
However, it’s a brilliantly written book and I enjoyed the first half most of all when our KGB turncoat is still in Russia, and enjoys his first taste of European life when he is involved in faux-diplomacy.
Of course, it’s always an interesting study to try and understand why a devoted Communist at the time was so devouring of Westernised luxuries, too. It’s not so much the desire of the central character, but more a narrative around others, who sing from the KGB hymn sheet and then whack around in luxury Mercedes.
The British characters come off best - they are everything you expect them to be. Upper crust, thorough, with stiff upper lips and a sense of balance even when the situation moves towards emergency, even if the author has smoothed over some edges, they are characters to lap up and enjoy.
The role of the women in this book was also well described, from the downtrodden role of the Russian housewife to the stolid spinster in the British security services, as well as the stalwart diplomatic wives standing by their men and keeping mum, they hold a lot more power than their ranks may have suggested.
As for our Russian hero, who seems at one point to help save us from nuclear war, well he’s far from perfect and the way he treats his wives and children isn’t ideal. But his story is brave one, at times a white-knuckle ride, and one where so much can go wrong, and often does.
One thing this book is not, is dry. It is written with the deftness of a wonderful novelist, and this is a yarn indeed.
And the tradecraft moments involving dead drops, chewing gum, Mars bars and Safeway bags bring touches of humour which a times is much needed.
I enjoyed every moment of this book, and was sad when it was all over. It’s a while since that has happened - I have abandoned so many books recently, and so to want to devour this one felt great.

13 people found this helpful

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S. Bowler

Riveting journey

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2024

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As a 39-year-old avid reader with a penchant for thrilling espionage tales, "The Spy and the Traitor" had me hooked from the first page. Ben Macintyre masterfully weaves the intricate threads of this true Cold War espionage story into a gripping narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The author's meticulous research and attention to detail bring the characters to life, making me feel like a silent observer in the clandestine world of spies. The protagonist's journey from loyalty to betrayal and back again is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating, leaving me emotionally invested in every twist and turn.

Macintyre's storytelling prowess doesn't just recount historical events; it immerses the reader in the tension and paranoia of the Cold War era. The author successfully captures the human side of espionage, making me empathize with the characters' struggles and sacrifices.

This book is a captivating blend of history, intrigue, and personal drama. Whether you're a history buff or simply enjoy a riveting tale of espionage, "The Spy and the Traitor" is a must-read that will leave you contemplating the blurred lines between loyalty and betrayal.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2023

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This is one of those ‘fact is stranger than fiction’ books. It reads like a novel. I was addicted and read it in 3 days (and I don’t have a lot of time to read). I think that it also helped that this occurred when I was a child and I remember Thatcher and Gorbachev. I lent it to a friend and she said that she also found herself dreaming of it because it got inside her head. Very well written and I recommend it to all my friends both male and female. The Russian names can be a bit confusing when you first start to read it but don’t be put off; just go with the flow. Some parts are incredibly tense and I found it a real page turner. This is a real life thriller.

3 people found this helpful

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Paul S

An amazing, & highly readable narrative about the KGB double agent Oleg Gordievsky

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 July 2022

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The Spy and the Traitor is an amazing narrative about the KGB double agent Oleg Gordievsky. The telling of his story is so vivid it seems at times as if you are actually present with the various people and situations covered in the book. The finale is particularly gripping and I appreciated the aftermath which updates us with what has happened since those dramatic events in 1985 that are covered in the finale.
Other aspects I enjoyed are how you are given some insights into KGB, British and American 'spy-craft' and how unforeseen events and coincidences can throw a spanner into even the most meticulous of plans!
Is it worth reading this book? I think so if you like reading about the world of espionage and counter-espionage, or if you enjoy reading fictional spy thrillers, as this factual account based on interviews by many of the people involved in the case is every bit as gripping as the fictional stories by such renowned writers of the genre as John le Carré, Stella Rimington, and Len Deighton (to name just three that come immediately to mind) ... but don't take my word for it, why not take a look inside as Amazon suggests and see what you think.

4 people found this helpful

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The charger arrived on time and works just fine . All good. Happy New year

Great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2024

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So we'll written about a forgotten piece of history which is relevant to now

One person found this helpful

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Sarah Helliwell

Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2024

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Really good, good condition

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2024

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This book is written as a spy novel but the factual structure makes it an exceptional read. A similar insight to Putins Russia would help the West today!

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Joseph Kaback

great read

Reviewed in Canada on 19 September 2023

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Loved this book. Most interesting and educational about spying at the top level of governments of Britain and Russia. The story moves at a quick pace especially the last third when it was impossible to put the book down. If you want to learn how a spy
operates, read this book.

Alexia

Intrigante

Reviewed in Mexico on 16 May 2023

Verified Purchase

Excelente novela basada en una historia real. Increíble la intervención de la nteligencia de la Unión Soviética para crear ideologías extremas en varios países que afectan la política de desarrollo económico de libre mercado y las instituciones democráticas de las naciones. Interesante que aún en la actualidad sucede.

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Leiding Chen

top quality! it said like new, it is indeed like new!

Reviewed in Germany on 12 December 2023

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top quality! it said like new, it is indeed like new!

Luc

A Soviet spy who changed the world

Reviewed in France on 11 September 2023

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The very well written history of a senior KGB officer who decided to serve the West in the 70’s for ideological reasons, and whom the British Government remains completely loyal to.

Ramesh

A thrilling and cerebral real life spy story

Reviewed in India on 5 August 2023

Verified Purchase

The book is a an absolute must read spy novel. Considering its a real life story it makes it all the more entertaining.

Considering that this was a multi year tale, the number of characters and their roles dont overwhelm. The characters are suitably fleshed out for the story.

It was fascinating to read about a Spy who must have made such an impact on certain global events and perhaps had a small hand to play in defining the cold war. Considerable research seems to have been conducted and distilled. It has been distilled without losing out on the larger picture. It gives a ring-side view of the cloak-and-dagger mechanisms employed by spy agencies, the importance an utility of spying.

This book is a real page-turner, and it tempted me many times to finish it in one go, i had to savour the book. There is a certain bias and a typical british put-down of the other side but that doesnt effect the overall content. The author claims that the book has been critiqued by some of the principal characters.

The book deserves a 10 star for an irrestible read. Forget James Bond, this is the real deal.

One person found this helpful

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