The Spy and the Traitor by Ben MacIntyre

Ben MacIntyre has written several books about World War II and Cold War spies.  In one he focused on the notorious British double agent Kim Philby and his spy ring.  That was later made into a BBC documentary.  The Spy and the Traitor deals with a Russian double agent.  Like Kim Philby, Oleg Gordievsky was part of the Russian KGB establishment.  Philby and his fellow accomplices were gentlemen students in Cambridge.  The British typically considered these credentials sufficient proof of their loyalty.  Oleg Gordievsky’s family was deeply involved with the KGB.  His father was a high level KGB operative.  His older brother, as a member of the KGB, was involved with the ruthless Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia to put down the Prague Spring in 1968.  He married a woman who was also a KGB agent.  To all appearances he was deeply committed to the Soviet cause.  When he was exposed, he directed the Russian spy establishment in England.

The book describes his disillusionment with the Communist values and his embrace of Western culture – unknown to his wife.  It describes how Gordievsky made the initial connections with MI-5 the British spy agency.  Then it details intelligence supplied by Gordievsky that exposed spies and collaborators primarily in Norway and England.  English collaborators were trade unionists and journalists.  One, Michael Foot, almost became Prime Minister!  He also played a significant behind-the-scenes role facilitating negotiations between Gorbachev, Thatcher, and Reagan that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 

The book describes tactics the British used to help Gordievsky become head of the Russian spy network in England.  And, the role of the CIA and the “Traitor” Aldrich Ames in exposing him to the KGB.  MacIntyre describes how the Soviets used that information to remove Gordievsky in the exciting final chapters.

All of us felt this was a very revealing deep dive into the world of spies.  We knew it was a true story but it read like a spy novel.  As a true story it raises a number of questions, such as, what motivates people to spy or collaborate; how can a person keep secrets from people closest; why the CIA chose to identify a valuable asset; how did the KGB let him slip through their grasp and; at a time that Russia has poisoned other dissidents, how has Gordievsky survived.

Many in the book club felt this was not a book they would have normally read.  But, none regretted reading it.  It was an exciting look into the murky world of spies!  And a strong candidate for a movie!

Ash Rao