The Spy and the Traitor

The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War

This nonfiction work investigates the career of Oleg Gordievsky, a high-ranking KGB officer who secretly operated as a double agent for the British intelligence service MI6. It details his clandestine operations, risk-laden communication methods, and the vital intelligence he provided during a volatile period of the Cold War. The narrative culminates in his perilous exfiltration from the Soviet Union when his cover was compromised. Through archival records and interviews, the book highlights the human stakes of espionage and counterintelligence.

by Ben Macintyre

Penguin Books, Limited · First published 2018 · 384 pages