The e-book was provided by the publisher.
A Spy Among Friends, by Ben Macintyre
Much
has been written about Kim Philby, the notorious British turncoat who operated
freely for thirty years. Author Ben Macintyre takes a different approach in his
presentation, giving us a view from those who thought that they knew Philby
because they were close personal friends.
The
book is a page-turner, with the very spy craft that inspired Ian Fleming
(himself a member of the club), but it is the old boys network that really
stands out. To read about a man being recruited and then admitted into the
highest echelons of British intelligence because he was a Cambridge man and
public school boy is to realize that the class system was not totally wiped out
by the social changes brought on by the First World War.
The
case of Kim Philby is as much a cautionary tale of class privilege as it is a
story about the privileged being used in ways that broke their social rules,
and the shock that kept them blind to the betrayal of one of their own.
Using
the words of those who thought they were Philby's great friends, the author
explains how the false narrative woven by Philby protected him from being
outed. The closeness, the camaraderie, all served to insulate him from exposure
and furthered his career. What comes across in the narrative is the frustration
and total befuddlement of the men of MI6 who watched every attempt to undermine
the Soviet Union upended, aware that someone had tipped the enemy off but
utterly unaware that it was the very man they discussed their plans with.
As
the story concludes, Mr. Macintyre maintains the focus on the friends, those
who were betrayed so thoroughly. How they reacted to that betrayal, and what
changed in the espionage game, bring the story full circle.
A
fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of spies makes for an intriguing
read that is difficult to put down once you've begun.
No comments:
Post a Comment