Overview

This is the true story of a remarkable man who pulled off a seemingly impossible espionage mission in Tokyo, before and during World War II. Richard Sorge, born to a Russian mother and a German father, ran a network of Japanese and Europeans under the noses of Japan's dreaded secret police. From 1933 until he was caught in late 1941, he transmitted priceless secrets to Red Army intelligence. Sorge's espionage group - perhaps the most successful operating in this critical period - kept the Russians informed about Japanese and German intentions, and also helped influence decisions made by these governments.; Sorge's biggest coup was to inform Stalin of the German attack on Russia in 1941, weeks before it occurred - with details of troop deployments, movement of armaments and the actual date of the attack. Abandoned to his fate by Stalin, Sorge became the first European sentenced to death by a Japanese court. After a prolonged ordeal, he was executed in Sugamo prison in 1944.

Full Product Details

9781845113100

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Reviews

'As well researched as possible and yet as readable as a first-rate thriller.' Oleg Gordievsky, Times Literary Supplement 'This is a gripping story and very well told. Whymant's new material deepens understanding and advances knowledge...a very readable book.' M.R.D. Foot 'Kim Philby several times expressed to me his admiration of Sorge. He felt Sorge was the only secret agent beyond reproach.' Philip Knightley 'In his penetrating biography, Robert Whymant, delves into the nether regions of human betrayal to recover the man from the myth.' Kevin Toolis, The Observer 'An enthralling new account' Murray Sayle, London Review of Books 'This gripping account of Sorge's Tokyo spy ring by Robert Whymant draws on recently released Russian archives to add much new material to an important bit of Japan's wartime history.' William Dawkins, Financial Times 'An utterly fascinating book that treats Sorge with the complexity that his life and career deserve.' Richard Bernstein, New York Times 'Whymant has done a splendid job. He gets as close as any author to the character of Sorge, his loneliness, his sexual appetites, his mental deterioration.' Literary Review 'Mr Whymant's biography adds much interesting detail.' Professor Christopher Andrew, The Spectator

Author Information

Robert Whymant covered East Asia for The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph from 1972 to 1993 when he became Tokyo Correspondent of The Times. Whymant was tragically killed in the 2004 tsunami while on holiday in Sri Lanka.

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