This is a non-fiction book about Kim Philby, the British spy for the Soviet Union during the Cold War. I read it for one of my most engaging book clubs (where everyone always reads the book and actually spends a hour talking about it!) Surprisingly, I was nearly the only person who liked it! Despite how much I disliked Kim Philby, I was very interested in reading about the spy business. In Britain, they have the M15 (like the FBI) and the M16 (like the CIA). I enjoyed reading about the recruiting of spies and double agents, the rivalries between M15 and M16 and the boys-club mentality of the agents - where even the most top secret information was shared among them. Most of all, I was intrigued by how Kim Philby, loved by all, could betray his country and send hundreds of people to their deaths without an ounce of remorse. He never strayed from his worship of communism and his idealistic view of the Soviet Union. He was like Ted Bundy - a good looking charmer who fools everyone while doing evil deeds in almost plain sight.
I did get frustrated while reading this book however. First of all, while I admire loyalty among friends, I got irritated at both Nicholas Elliott and James Angleton and their blind faith. These were all highly intelligent men - and the spy business is full of double agents and some triple agents. There was some pretty damaging evidence being stacked up against Kim Philby that should have at least had them thinking twice about things. But no, they were friends (naive friends!) who literally had to have his betrayal flung in their faces before they believed it. It kind of reminds me of Bill Cosby's wife. But I digress. It took a really long time for Kim to be caught and I was impatient with that! It was incredible how "lucky" he was, escaping exposure time and time again. I found it interesting - and believable - that they allowed him to defect to the Soviet Union after he was caught, instead of charging him with treason and sending him to prison, as they had done with George Blake - another Soviet spy within M16. It would have just been too "messy" for Britain to deal with him. I could not believe that they allowed his wife and children to come and go from the Soviet Union to visit him though!! What's up with that? Neither Britain or the Soviet Union appeared to have a problem with it. Very weird.
My book club cohorts who did not like the book stated that it was too detailed and there were too many people to keep track of. They said it was impossible to keep everyone straight and to remember where they all fit into the system of the British spy network. Agreed. There were a lot of people involved. The majority of readers will not be able to remember who everyone is, but I don't think you have to. Follow the key characters and you will be fine. I really do detest Kim Philby, but I still liked the book!
Wendy's Rating: ***1/2 (Apparently it's not a book for everyone!)
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