A Spy Among Friends
Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
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4.2 • 316 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The true story of Kim Philby, the Cold War's most infamous spy, from the master espionage writer and author of The Spy and the Traitor.
Who was Kim Philby? Those closest to him—like his fellow MI6 officer and best friend since childhood, Nicholas Elliot, and the CIA’s head of counterintelligence, James Jesus Angleton—knew him as a loyal confidant and an unshakeable patriot. Philby was a brilliant and charming man who rose to head Britain’s counterintelligence against the Soviet Union. Together with Elliott and Angleton he stood on the front lines of the Cold War, holding Communism at bay. But he was secretly betraying them both: He was working for the Russians the entire time.
Every word uttered in confidence to Philby by his colleagues in the West made its way to Moscow, leading countless missions to their doom and subverting American and British attempts to subdue the Soviet threat. So how was this cunning double-agent finally exposed? In A Spy Among Friends, Ben Macintyre expertly weaves the heart-pounding tale of how Philby almost got away with it all—and what happened when he was finally unmasked.
Based on personal papers and never-before-seen British intelligence files, this is Ben Macintyre’s epic telling of one of the greatest spy stories ever, a Cold War history that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Macintyre's latest biography chronicles the adventures of British intelligence officer Kim Philby, who secretly spied for the Soviet Union throughout most of his career. These events have inspired a host of fictional espionage thrillers, but Mac intyre offers new context to address the forces that shaped Philby's betrayal of his country. Veteran reader Lee effectively shifts between expository passages and dialogue. Philby's career makes for an engrossing narrative, with accounts of double-crosses and triple-crosses, and Lee's performance brings out the human element in the action-packed plot. His rendering of eccentric CIA counterintelligence leader James Jesus Angleton an American with strong British ties and sensibilities is especially memorable. Building to the climactic confrontation between Philby and his best friend and colleague, Nicholas Elliott, Lee's delivery of the spy vs. spy banter evokes the essence of Cold War tension. A Crown hardcover.
Customer Reviews
Fascinating Story
I knew nothing of Kim Philby before reading this book, so the book was very informative on this world class spy and his close relationships with CIA & British Intelligence figures. It is hard to believe he got away with what he did so the story itself is fascinating. My one major complaint is that there are so many names in a 300+ page book your head will spin!...EAF
A spy among friends
I very intriguing and a pleasure to read. Keeps you engaged from the first page.
Spy among friends
Throughly engrossing read. Makes one wonder if our present intelligent community is still running on pink gin and dirty jokes.