The Sword and the Shield

By: Christopher Andrew, Vasilli Mitrokhin

Narrated by: Robert Whitfield

Length: 31 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

This book reveals the most complete picture ever of the KGB and its operations in the United States and Europe. It is based on an extremely top secret archive, which details the full extent of its worldwide network.

Christopher Andrew is professor of modern and contemporary history and chair of the history department at Cambridge University, a former visiting professor of national security at Harvard, a frequent guest lecturer at other United States universities, and a regular host of BBC radio and TV programs. His books - which include Her Majesty’s Secret Service; KGB: The Inside Story (with Oleg Gordievsky); and For the President’s Eyes Only - have established him as one of the world’s leading authorities on intelligence history.

©1985 Christopher Andrew and Vasilli Mitrokhin (P)1999 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A sweeping, densely documented history…Thanks to Comrade Mitrokhin, the KGB and most who spied for it have been stripped naked.” ( New York Times Book Review)

“ The Sword and the Shield will stand as an indispensable reference work on Soviet espionage for years to come.” ( Washington Post)

“Whitfield’s [narration]…is certainly appropriate for this presentation.” (Kliatt)

Thorough, but TMI

This book was very thorough yet it was very hard to get through. Too much detail and very easy to get lost in all the name dropping. A little less minutiae and more background detail would have made this book more enjoyable. Parts were fascinating, but most droned on for me.

Very Europe/US focused

I got this book thinking it will have global coverage of KGB, but this book keeps repeating the known story of Europe and the US. There are lot of stories that happened in Asia and Africa, but absolutely no mention of it. disappointing.
Also, the story is not well pieced together, to many names and to many incidents, often unrelated.

Eye opening and Scary

This book is a fascinating inside account of the operations of the KGB and in its first chapters the evil and madness of its leader Stalin. For more eye opening and indeed sickening not to mention scary is the revelation of just how many traitors there were and no doubt still are in the USA and England who sold their souls and country to a evil and murderous political theory. Example, did you know that people who were part of the program developing the first Atomic Bomb gave that same information to the KGB, university students, and teachers betrayed their country by spying for the Russians.

This book reads like an encyclopedia of who was who before and during the cold war, the Americans and Brits were who were willingly aiding the USSR against their own people and what information they passed along. It lists the numbers of infiltrators called "residents" some here legally but most illegally and most damning of all it shows just how ignorant and even inept the US Presidents before and during WW2 were in realizing the true depth to which the KGB had the US infiltrated.

If your a freedom loving American this book can be a painful (but informative) read as it shows you just how badly the Commies have corrupted us and the sheer amount of information they had on us. Make no mistake, the Cold war was far more perilous than popular media and even those who lived through it would have you believe.

This is not some riviting spy novel, this is a 'just the facts ma'am' record of KGB activities recorded by a brave man who risked everything to bring the truth to light. (God Bless him!)

Fascinating History

To my American ear, the story of the security services of tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union is eye opening. The KGB has a fearsome reputation, but I had always assumed that there was a boogie-man element to that reputation. After listening to the book, I was amazed at the effects of the security services on Soviet internal and foreign policy. I also had not realized the importance of the

Full of valuable info.

Great intro and conclusion. Lots of valuable info, but the middle part could have been a little more persuasive. Overall, an important disclosure.

A Deep, (to) Deep Dive Into Soviet Spying

Overall interesting story but way to long and far, far to many names. Could have been half the length and been just as interesting. Best to start with part 2 and go back if really interested.

Good but lengthy

This book goes into great detail about the KGB's activities and organization throughout the cold war years and then some. The problem I had was the vast amount of information shared got lost, twisted and confused in the 31+ hours that this book runs for. If you can manage the length and all that this book is comprised of, you'll be in for one heck of a story. Frankly, I am surprised the KGB managed to last as long as they did, seemed they were more focused on themselves and less of anyone else.

Detailed and thorough

Great account of the KGB and NKVD. Their relationship with other country Ws and their own people.

Great narration of immense information.

The sheer magnitude of Soviet involvement was well documented and relayed compellingly in this faithful work.

It’s all in the Preparation and Delivery

The most factual, well written, and delivered report on the KGB and its adversaries - internally and externally. Robert Whitfield’s fluid delivery makes what could have been a “War and Peace” bore into an exciting listening experience. He flawless pronunciation of Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, and the Slavic languages is highly commendable.