The Spy and the Traitor is a non-fiction book written by Ben Macintyre, published in 2018. It tells the thrilling true story of Oleg Gordievsky, a high-ranking KGB officer who became a double agent for the British intelligence agency, MI6, during the Cold War.
The book begins by providing background information on Gordievsky’s early life and his recruitment into the KGB. Born in Moscow in 1938, Gordievsky grew up in a family with strong communist beliefs. He joined the KGB in 1961 and quickly rose through the ranks due to his intelligence and dedication to the cause.
Macintyre then delves into the political climate of the Cold War era, highlighting the tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western powers, particularly the United States and Britain. He explains how espionage played a crucial role in this conflict, with both sides seeking to gather intelligence on each other’s activities.
Gordievsky’s career as a spy began in the late 1960s when he was stationed in Denmark as a KGB officer. It was during this time that he started to question his loyalty to the Soviet Union and became disillusioned with its oppressive regime. Gordievsky’s dissatisfaction with communism grew further when he witnessed firsthand the brutal suppression of the Prague Spring in 1968.
In 1974, Gordievsky was transferred to London as a KGB rezident (station chief). This move provided him with an opportunity to establish contact with MI6. The book details how Gordievsky made initial contact with British intelligence officers and how he gradually developed a relationship of trust with them.
As Gordievsky began passing classified information to MI6, he became one of their most valuable assets. The book describes some of the critical intelligence he provided, including insights into Soviet military plans, nuclear capabilities, and political strategies. His information proved instrumental in shaping Western policies and strategies during the Cold War.
However, Gordievsky’s double life was not without risks. The KGB was notorious for its ruthless methods of dealing with traitors, and Gordievsky constantly lived in fear of being exposed. Macintyre recounts several close calls and moments of tension as Gordievsky navigated the treacherous world of espionage.
In 1985, Gordievsky’s cover was blown by a KGB mole within MI6. He narrowly escaped arrest and managed to make it to the British embassy in Moscow, where he sought refuge. The book details the dramatic extraction operation carried out by MI6 to smuggle Gordievsky out of the Soviet Union safely.
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The Spy and the Traitor
- The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
- Narrated by: John Lee
If anyone can be considered Russia’s counterweight to notorious British double agent Kim Philby, it’s Oleg Gordievsky. The son of two KGB agents and a product of the Soviet Union’s best institutions, the sophisticated, savvy Gordievsky had grown up to view his nation’s communism as both criminal and profane. He took his first post for Russian intelligence in 1968 and eventually became head of the Soviet Union in London, but from 1973 on, he worked secretly for MI6. For nearly a decade, as the Cold War entered its twilight years, Gordievsky helped turn the tide of the West against the KGB, expose Russian spies and help foil countless intelligence conspiracies, as the leaderships The Soviet Union became increasingly paranoid about the first US nuclear strike. possibilities and brought the world to the brink of war. Desperate to keep a tight circle of trust, MI6 never divulged Gordievsky’s name to its partners in the CIA, which left the CIA increasingly obsessed with figuring out the identity of the apparently high-profile source. UK best. Their obsession eventually destroyed Gordievsky: the CIA officer tasked with determining his identity was none other than Aldrich Ames, who would become notorious for secretly spying for the Soviet Union.
Opening up a delicious trilogy between the US, UK, and the Soviet Union, and culminating in a gripping, pulsating pacing about Gordievsky’s nail-biting escape from Moscow in 1985, Ben Macintyre’s latest work could be is his best work. Like John le Carré’s greatest novels, it plunges readers deep into a world of treachery and betrayal, where the line bleeds between personal and professional, and hatred of communism. One man’s communism has the power to change the future of nations.
I write very few reviews, but reading a negative review about John Lee prompted me to respond.
I have listened to many of his books and consider him a favorite. Anyway if you like spy books, this is one of the best.
I don’t get into the espionage genre very often. I started this on a whim, enjoyed it the first few nights I listened to it and then on the third night I woke up at 4am and couldn’t sleep, so stressful! It also helpfully filled in some holes in my British history. Thank you, a great listen!
One of the best spy horror stories I’ve come across. John Lee did a great deal of research and performed brilliantly. Highly recommended. It starts out slow but builds up towards the middle and is hard to put down. I think nothing can beat the book, Mossad: Mishal and Zohar’s Greatest Quests. This is better. It’s like a marathon of espionage for over 11 years. I was amazed at the drive and character one must have to stick with it.
Good write. With all that said about Russian interference in democratic elections around the world, this book provides a very clear picture of the cruel world of the KGB from the 60s to the 80s. Do you think things have changed much since the fall of the Soviet Union?
