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The Spy and the Traitor
- The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Military & War
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Publisher's Summary
New York Times Best Seller
The celebrated author of Double Cross and Rogue Heroes returns with his greatest spy story yet, a thrilling Americans-era tale of Oleg Gordievsky, the Russian whose secret work helped hasten the end of the Cold War.
“The best true spy story I have ever read.” (John Le Carré)
If anyone could be considered a Russian counterpart to the infamous British double-agent Kim Philby, it was Oleg Gordievsky. The son of two KGB agents and the product of the best Soviet institutions, the savvy, sophisticated Gordievsky grew to see his nation's communism as both criminal and philistine. He took his first posting for Russian intelligence in 1968 and eventually became the Soviet Union's top man in London, but from 1973 on he was secretly working for MI6. For nearly a decade, as the Cold War reached its twilight, Gordievsky helped the West turn the tables on the KGB, exposing Russian spies and helping to foil countless intelligence plots, as the Soviet leadership grew increasingly paranoid at the United States's nuclear first-strike capabilities and brought the world closer to the brink of war. Desperate to keep the circle of trust close, MI6 never revealed Gordievsky's name to its counterparts in the CIA, which in turn grew obsessed with figuring out the identity of Britain's obviously top-level source. Their obsession ultimately doomed Gordievsky: the CIA officer assigned to identify him was none other than Aldrich Ames, the man who would become infamous for secretly spying for the Soviets.
Unfolding the delicious three-way gamesmanship between America, Britain, and the Soviet Union, and culminating in the gripping cinematic beat-by-beat of Gordievsky's nail-biting escape from Moscow in 1985, Ben Macintyre's latest may be his best yet. Like the greatest novels of John le Carré, it brings listeners deep into a world of treachery and betrayal, where the lines bleed between the personal and the professional, and one man's hatred of communism had the power to change the future of nations.
Critic Reviews
- Named a Best Book of 2018 by The Economist
- Shortlisted for the Bailie Giffords Prize in Nonfiction
“Readers seeking a page-turning spy story, look no further. The author of A Spy Among Friends and Agent Zigzag, among others, does it again, this time delivering a Cold War espionage story for the ages… another can’t miss account of intrigue and intelligence.” (Boston Globe)
“The subtitle of Macintyre’s latest real-life spy thriller calls it ‘The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War.’ Like pretty much everything in this fine book, the description is accurate… Macintyre is fastidious about tradecraft details… [he] has become the preeminent popular chronicler of British intelligence history because he understands the essence of the business.”(Washington Post)
“The Spy and the Traitor [is] a fast-paced and fascinating biography of Russian-spy-turned-British-asset Oleg Gordievsky… It’s nonfiction, but it reads like the best of thrillers… The toll spying takes on Gordievsky’s personal life is enthralling, and the details of how deep the effects of one KGB agent’s deception can go are, in these days of Russian election meddling, quite frightening.” (San Francisco Chronicle)
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What listeners say about The Spy and the Traitor
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- George Smith
- 10-09-18
Lost almost a nights sleep to this... and well worth it.
I don’t venture into the spy genre often. I started this on a whim, enjoyed it for the first few nights I listened to it and then on the third night found myself at 4am still going, unable to sleep, it’s that tense! It also usefully filled in some holes in my British history. Thank you, a great listen!
55 people found this helpful
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- Rosemary
- 09-25-18
Absolutely riveting story
This is a fairly slow starter because it’s not a novel. Once it gets going it’s impossible to put down, brilliant research and marvelous narrative by John Lee.
59 people found this helpful
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- David
- 09-21-18
John Lee is GREAT!
I write very few reviews, but reading the negative review about John Lee prompted me to answer.
I've listened to many of his books, and consider him a favorite. Anyway if you enjoy espionage books, this is one of the best.
63 people found this helpful
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- M. Collins
- 11-19-18
required reading for understanding of Russian KGB
Well written. With all the talk Russian interference in democratic elections throughout the world this book brings a very clear picture of the vicious world of the KGB from the 60's through the 80's. Do you think things have changed much since the downfall of the USSR?
18 people found this helpful
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- John H
- 11-19-18
How little we know
Great Cold War story. That it really occurred is really amazing. Shows the impact one person, with the right motivation can have on world events. If you enjoy intrigue and a real life “James Bond” thriller this book won’t disappoint.
The narration, the characters, the story and the sweeping well written story is well worth your time.
15 people found this helpful
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- Harold
- 10-22-18
Supurb
The best listen for many years. I great story told very well. I enjoyed the writing and John Lee very, very much.
15 people found this helpful
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- AS
- 09-20-18
Ben Macintyre true to form
Perhaps his best, maybe second to Agent Zigzag or A Spy Among Friends, British spy historian Ben Macintyre relates a deeply-researched and fully alive griping tale of real life intrigue, espionage, and escape, while also commenting on the utility of espionage and the moral equivalencies of both sides. Although I loved Macintyre's own reading of Rogue Heroes, glad John Lee is back to lend his voice to this wonderfully engaging story. Lee's excitement and enthusiasm, and his ability to convey Macintyre sly humor, are perfect for this story. I bought both the audiobook and kindle version, unsure of where/when I'd read it, but I found Lee's voice so captivating, that I've let him read the whole thing to me. Highly recommended, better than any spy fiction out there (save maybe Le Carre, Greene, Ambler, whose suspense, thrilling pacing, and literary prose Macintyre rivals or even bests).
46 people found this helpful
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- Peter Schleider
- 12-05-18
A movie next?
No question this true story should be a movie or a series that. Ethic or Amazon Prime Video should create. This book kept me interested every chapter, paragraph, every word. If you like true story that has old Cold War intrigue you have no choice but to buy this book.
10 people found this helpful
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- maria amendola
- 11-20-18
I love the British reader but...
I understand the lee is British but his Russian accent sound more British than is Normal one. Having said it he arguable my favorite reader wonderful to listen to. The story is great!! Macintyre did it again!!!
10 people found this helpful
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- A. Iyer
- 10-18-18
Better than best Mossad thrillers
One of the best spy thriller stories I have come across. Very well researched and superb performance by John Lee. Very highly recommended. It starts slow but picks up towards middle and difficult to put down. I thought nothing could beat the book , Mossad : Greatest Missions by Mishal and Zohar. This one is better. It is like a Marathon of Espionage over 11 years. I was left in awe on the motivation and character that one must possess to stick with it .
20 people found this helpful