The autobiography of a spy 9780375759833 by kim philby. Written from moscow in 1967, my silent war shook the world and introduced a. Philby is an annoying git, but what a life he has lived. Written from moscow in 1967, my silent warshook the world and introduced a new archetype in fiction. Kim philby, british intelligence officer until 1951 and the most successful soviet double agent of the cold war period. Philby only says of burgess that he was apt to get into personal scrapes of a spectacular nature but doesnt amplify them and muffles altogether his own disreputable conduct between 1956 and 1963. For a good fifteen years, he was at the heart of the britishamerican espionage effort against the soviet union.
Publication date 1968 topics philby, kim, 19121988 publisher new york, grove press collection. He was apparently responsible for the deaths of many western agents whose activities he betrayed to the soviets during the 1940s and early 50s. The autobiography of a spy by kim philby and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The autobiography of a spy by graham greene,phillip knightly, kim philby and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our. Rufina philpys book provides much more interesting reading than her husband kim s dry book, my silent war. I wonder if we got the full story or is it just the tip of the iceburgwell never. For many years after the publication of my silent war, it was rumoured that the autobiography of kim philby had been ghostwritten by the kgb. Written from moscow in 1967, my silent war shook the world and introduced a new archetype in fiction the unrepentant spy. She paints a vivid picture of the frustrating and inconvenient life that kim philby led after he defected from britain to russia. Perhaps what is missing here are some of the personal referrals and revelations which added great interest to the other, fuller book. My silent war by kim philby 1968the best true spy story was written by. The autobiography of a spy, the 1968 memoir of kim philby, the double agent who headed the cambridge five spy ring that fed british and american wwii and cold war intelligence to the soviet union. Kim philby, the ringleader of the legendary cambridge spies.
Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the uk. To ask other readers questions about my silent war, please sign up. The autobiography of a spy ebook written by kim philby. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. The autobiography of a spy by kim philby, in very good condition. The autobiography of a spy kim philby, graham greene, phillip knightley. My silent war by philby, kim and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It inspired john le carres smiley novels and the later espionage novels of graham greene.
My silent war by kim philby penguin books australia. My silent war by kim philby abebooks passion for books. Philby was a highly successful double agent who rose quickly through the ranks of mi6, all the while acting as an agent for the russian secret service. Written after he fled to moscow in 1963, the book was a deliberate. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. I suppose given that he wrote the book in moscow he was rather limited in what he could say directly, in any case the book my silent war kim philby interesting and often funny in a sort of snarky my silent war kim philby but if you want to know the full story youll have to do a lot more other reading. What books would you recommend to someone who wants to know. The observer at 225 there are many mysteries surrounding kim philby s job at the observer the soviet spy and middle east correspondent for the observer exposed the british establishment. Kim philby was the master double agent of all time. Written from moscow in 1967, my silent war shook the world and introduced a new archetype in fiction. Kim philby, author, graham greene, foreword by, phillip knightley, introduction by. Graham greene and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at.
I was expecting so much more of this book since kim philby was the most. The autobiography of a spy by kim philby goodreads. In the case of my silent war, it is both more outrageous and less plausible. Friends by ben macintyre wild bill donovan by douglas c. The autobiography of a spy, the 1968 memoir of kim philby, the double agent who. See all 26 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. I was expecting so much more of this book since kim philby was the most notoriously successful spy of the entire cold war era.
My silent war by kim philby penguin random house canada. Kim philby and the age of paranoia the new york times. Yes, philby wrote in moscow under the noses of the kgb, and was therefore selective in his reminiscences, but my silent war, written in lucid prose, never ceases to fascinate. Kim philby was one of the cambridge five, a ring of spies who traded information to the soviet union during the second world war. Far more gripping than any novel of espionage i can remember. Raising as many questions as it answers, the book never sinks to communist propaganda philby is too clever by far, and too competent a writer. And, in fact, the book my silent war, which had been one of the chief vehicles of philby s deception of the west, became one of the chief instruments of torture the k. A member of the british establishment, philby joined the secret intelligence.
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