Who out there doesn’t love a good spy story? I know I do. While I love a behind-the-scenes look at the intrigue of espionage, I could do without all the brutal torture episodes. Whether you’re one that enjoys more gruesome aspects of professional spying or not, I recommend Ben Macintyre’s: The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War. This is the perfect pick for readers who aren’t quite ready to give up the easy page-turners of summer but are gearing up to start reading more “serious” fare.
Enter Oleg Gordievsky: The son of two KGB agents and the product of all-encompassing Soviet institutions with a perfect pedigree. Gordievsky started with the KGB in 1968 and proceeded to work his way up the espionage career ladder to get a prime posting as the top Russian diplomat in London. Oleg was going places as a foreign operative and was (mostly) beloved by his peers. But as he received accolades and promotions from Russia, he was feeding the British some of the most pertinent and secret information of any spy in history.
The book plunges you into the savvy mind of Gordievsky, who came to believe communism was criminal and worked to undermine it. If I didn’t know it was a true story, I would have thought I was reading a novel. Instead, Macintyre pulls the reader in through his intense non-fiction storytelling riddled with sound historical references and timelines. The overall pacing is excellent, although it may take a bit to draw you in. Once you’re hooked, though, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of such episodes as Gordievsky briefing Prime Minster Thatcher before meeting with Gorbechev. You will be immersed into the inner workings of the KGB, and even get a glance at the up-and-coming KGB operative Vladimir Putin. Not to mention a crazy inside look at the psyche of the Soviet Union during the Cold War and how they believed the United States was much closer to hitting the nuclear button than we ever imagined. Thank goodness Oleg Gordievsky was around to stave off a potential nuclear disaster.
It feels good to read about someone who was raised in communism, saw its failings and the corruption it caused, and was willing to risk his life and livelihood to fight against it for years. Add to that, delicious side dishes such as an American traitor who sells his secrets—basically to impress his new girlfriend—and goes on to earn enough money to (almost) make the consequences worth it. This real-life glance at greed, the unlikely escape attempt of someone you can’t help but root for, and an intricate look at the CIA, MI6, and the KGB, makes for a read that is fascinating and fun. The Spy and the Traitor will help you make that perfect transition out of the breezy summer reading season and into the cold intrigue of the Cold War. Happy reading.
