The Spy and the Traitor

The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War

By: Ben Macintyre

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The celebrated author of Double Cross and Rogue Heroes returns with 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

Named a Best Book of the Year by The Economist • Shortlisted for the Bailie Giffords Prize in Nonfiction

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 readers 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.

©2018 Ben Macintyre (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Every bit as exciting as my favorite spy novels.”—Bill Gates, GatesNotes

“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

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!!!

More than I ever knew....

What a great story. All this happened and no one knew. Deep secrets of espionage which kept me riveted. I would take a drive to simply listen to more of the story..I don't know how Oleg did it, I never could have done it.
Wonderful story, so so on the narration,

More thrilling than a spy novel

Thrilling page turner but also offers a personal portrait of man who took the right side in the moral struggle that history consists of

Unique Insight into Pure, Unwavering Political Conviction

Well written and narrated, one is taken on a journey of a double agent’s career of conscience and sacrifice. I had no idea one person held us from nuclear annihilation in the Thatcher/Regan era. This is the first time I heard of espionage supporting repair of international relations.

Phenomenal Story

What an amazing story! And so we’ll written and performed. The best true spy story I have read. Just witty… tense… interesting. A must listen to!

Breathless at every page!

I thought Red Sparrow was my favorite spy novel until I listened to this amazing book. I actually left work for an afternoon to hear the final chapters! My heart raced with every page. It's hard to believe every word is true in this book but IT IS! OMG!!

Kept me up so I could hear the end

Gripping and well written. I kept routing for Oleg. He was a great man and a hero.

Absolutely riveting, better than fiction

Very interesting novel that rivals any fictional tale of intrigue and suspense. The spy games come to life in this book .

Real life le Carrè

One of the most suspenseful and anxiety-inducing stories I’ve ever heard. I can’t imagine living the double agent life where every phone call, meeting, encounter, every word you speak, can mean life or death. This story is brilliantly told by Macintyre and narrated by John Lee. One of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to in a long time. Highly recommended.

Great Espionage Tale

Pitch perfect story that needed little embellishment. So many nuances to the Cold War and this story is a must listen to anyone that is interested