In this episode we bring you a Kobo in Conversation with author Ben Macintyre about his latest book, The Spy and the Traitor. Ben was interviewed by the Globe and Mail’s Doug Saunders where they discuss the spy Oleg Gordievsky, the Russian whose secret work helped hasten the end of the Cold War.
- Ben discusses the fascinating life story of Oleg Gordievsky and the resources he was able to tap into to illustrate Gordievsky’s life story.
- Doug discusses the 3 most famous traitors in the world and how they intertwine with Oleg’s and his story.
- Ben chats about Margaret Thatcher and why she valued Gordievsky’s work.
- Ben discusses Oleg’s work with the KGB and why they made him an important figure in the operation.
- Ben talks about the hilarious MI6 escape plan in place for Oleg if he need removal from Moscow.
- And more!
Ben Macintyre is a columnist and Associate Editor on The Times. He has worked as the newspaper’s correspondent in New York, Paris and Washington. He is the author of nine previous books including Agent Zigzag, shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award and the Galaxy British Book Award for Biography of the Year 2008, and the no. 1 bestsellers A Spy Among Friends, Operation Mincemeat, Double Cross and SAS: Rogue Heroes. You can find him on Twitter and on his website.
Yes, in the seventies I played badminton in Copenhagen with Oleg several times prior to his exfiltration. Nice bloke. That is mentioned in my first book. One of the most worthwhile defectors we secreted out. Others were not.