Overview

Previous histories have focused on the KGB, leaving military intelligence and the special service--which specialized in codes and ciphers--lurking in the shadows. Drawing on previously neglected Russian sources, Haslam reveals how both were in fact crucial to the survival of the Soviet state. This was especially true after Stalin's death in 1953, as the Cold War heated up and dedicated Communist agents the regime had relied upon--Klaus Fuchs, the Rosenbergs, Donald Maclean--were betrayed. In the wake of these failures, Khrushchev and his successors discarded ideological recruitment in favor of blackmail and bribery. The tactical turn was so successful that we can draw only one conclusion: the West ultimately triumphed despite, not because of, the espionage war. In bringing to light the obscure inhabitants of an undercover intelligence world, Haslam offers a surprising and unprecedented portrayal of Soviet success that is not only fascinating but also essential to understanding Vladimir Putin's power today.

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9798200015177

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"For readers of Russian history, spy history, World War II, communication, and those interested in the KGB.-- ""Library Journal"""

Author Information

Jonathan Haslam is the author of several books, including No Virtue Like Necessity, Russia's Cold War, and The Vices of Integrity. Jonathan is the George F. Kennan Professor in the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. He is also a fellow of the British Academy, a fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Professor Emeritus in the History of International Relations at Cambridge University. He has been a visiting professor at Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, and is a member of the Society of Scholars at Johns Hopkins University. He lives in England. Shaun Grindell, actor and Earphones Award-winning narrator, was born and raised in Southampton, England. His training includes the Calland School of Speech and Drama and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in London. He has been seen on stage in London and Las Vegas.

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