A Spy Among Friends cover art

A Spy Among Friends

Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal

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A Spy Among Friends

By: Ben Macintyre
Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents A Spy Among Friends written and read by Ben Macintyre.

THE SUNDAY TIMES No. 1 BESTSELLER
WITH AN AFTERWORD BY JOHN LE CARRÉ

'Riveting, astounding . . . An unputdownable postwar thriller' Observer
'Irresistibly readable' Sunday Times
'Worthy of John le Carré at his best' Guardian
'Hugely engrossing . . . Both authoritative and enthralling' William Boyd
________________
Kim Philby was the most notorious British defector and Soviet mole in history. Agent, double agent, traitor and enigma, he betrayed every secret of Allied operations to the Russians in the early years of the Cold War.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Philby, Nicholas Elliott and James Jesus Angleton were rising stars in the intelligence world and shared every secret. Elliott and Angleton thought they knew Philby better than anyone – and then discovered they had not known him at all.

This is a story of loyalty, trust and treachery, of male friendships forged, and then systematically betrayed. With access to newly released MI5 files and previously unseen papers, A Spy Among Friends unlocks what was perhaps the last great secret of the Cold War.

©2014 Ben Macintyre (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 20th Century Espionage Europe Freedom & Security Great Britain Modern Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government True Crime Exciting Russia Soviet Union War Cold War
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a detailed and complex account of human deception, depravity and blind loyalty to people and ideas with callous behaviour towards the world and people.

brilliant and astounding

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Incredible read. Incredible that they let these guys get away with it. Great writing and great narration.

Fantastic

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Great story dating across three decades. A tale of love and deception. Poor Nick Elliot.

Fascinating

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If it was a spy novel you would find it far-fetched. The British class system at its most dysfunctional looking after one of its own. One extraordinary man with unflinching commitment to the cause. The Brits, the US and the Soviets meddling in the Middle East like children fighting in a playground. It doesn’t get any better. Ben McIntyre’s calm matter-of-fact delivery made the jaw-dropping events more unnerving.

Dangerous derring do

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"A Spy Among Friends" is an utterly gripping audiobook that immerses you in a good old-fashioned spy story, masterfully blending Cold War intrigue with a poignant exploration of friendship and betrayal. The stellar narration brings the complex characters and taut narrative to life, making every twist and turn feel incredibly personal and impactful. If you're looking for an espionage drama that's as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally resonant, this is a must-listen.

A Spy Among Friends - A gripping listen

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Just shows you what happens when you select from a very small gene pool instead of selecting resources on merit. The problems are then compounded by managing these resources based on their class instead of their performance.
Its no wonder England has gone downhill ever since WW11

Idiocy of the British upper classl

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