Kim philbys treacherous friendship with nicholas elliott. Apr 04, 2016 rare film emerges of doubleagent kim philby speaking after defection. Video of british super spy kim philby explaining how he succeeded at spying nsotd3. Of all soviet spies during the cold war, harold kim philby is the one authors seem to most like writing about. I have long since lost the degree indeed, i think it is in the possession of mi5. Agent, double agent, traitor and enigma, he betrayed every secret of allied operations to the russians in the early years of the cold war. May 20, 2015 a close associate of notorious british spy kim philby, who defected to the soviet union in 1963 and died in moscow in 1988, boyadjiev has published his account with yekaterinburg publishing house. Philby was the inspiration for the character of british intelligence officer archibald arch cummings in the 2005 film the good shepherd. In his autobiography, my silent war, kim philby says that he left cambridge in 1933, with a degree and the conviction that my life must be devoted to communism. Mar 12, 2015 kim philby was the most notorious british defector and soviet mole in history. Notorious cambridge spy kim philby, the former head of britains soviet counterintelligence who defected to the ussr in 1963, spent his last 25 years there. Nprs arun rath talks with author ben macintyre about his new book, a spy among friends, and the boozy secret to philbys success.
Together with guy burgess, donald maclean, anthony blunt and john cairncross, harold kim philby was one of the cambridge five, the most devastating group of sovietcontrolled double agents in british history. After graduating from washington university, she worked for the advertising agency j. For many, kim philby was the defining spy in an era rich in spy games and treachery. Rare film emerges of doubleagent kim philby speaking after. Ben macintyres bottomlessly fascinating new book is an exploration of kim philbys friendships, particularly with nicholas elliott this book consists of 300. Jul 27, 2014 ben macintyres latest nonfiction thriller, a spy among friends, is about kim philby, the highlevel british spymaster who turned out to be a russian mole. An undercurrent of macintyres book is the sense that, for those living a. A member of the british establishment, philby joined the secret intelligence service in 1940, rose to the head of soviet counterintelligence, and, as mi6s liaison with the cia and the fbi, betrayed every secret of allied operations to the russians. Kim philby, spies, and the dangers of paranoia the new. Kim philby was the greatest spy in history, a brilliant and charming man who rose to head britains counterintelligence against the soviet union during the height of the cold war while he was secretly working for the enemy. Ben macintyres bottomlessly fascinating new book is an exploration of kim philbys friendships, particularly with nicholas elliott. St john philby, previously a member of the labour party, fought a byelection held on 20 july 1939 for the parliamentary constituency of hythe, kent. Jan 24, 20 known as kim to his friends, philby secretly defected to the ussr from his home in beirut, lebanon, in 1963. She has been described as tall and slim, sweetnatured, and restless.
Even in death, the spy kim philby serves the kremlins. The common assumption that her grandfather followed a linear path leading to what he did is wrong, philby, 35, believes. There is a bbc tv series about philby and the others in his spy ring, called the cambridge spies, another tv series, that focuses on fictional characters, but with philby as a major character, is the company. But it was resumed a few months later, when he received a. The release of a new tape of kim philby lecturing in east germany is a reminder that britains worst ever traitor was overflowing with vanity, smugness and a total lack of remorse.
Rare film emerges of doubleagent kim philby speaking after defection. Master storyteller ben macintyres most ambitious work to date offers a powerful new angle on the 20th centurys greatest spy story. Kim philby was the greatest spy in history, a brilliant and charming man who rose to head britains counterintelligence against the soviet union during the height of the cold warwhile he was secretly working for the enemy. He stood for the antisemitic british peoples party, declaring no cause whatever is worth the spilling of human blood and protection of the small man against big business. A socialist, he served as an nkvd and kgb operative. Apr 04, 2016 the tape is of kim philby giving a secret lecture to the stasi, the east german intelligence service, in 1981. That was written in 1967, four years after he had fled to moscow to escape prosecution by the british. How secret russian spy kim philby helped set up israel. It is the first time the exmi6 officer can be seen talking about his life as a spy. Famous for guarding his privacy, the author says will be his final uk tv interview. This books main theme is trying to tell the story of one of the 5 spies as the leader of the whole enterprise kim philby.
Philby, with whom elliott had worked in beirut, had been a friend, and elliott felt his betrayal bitterly. If you would like to participate, visit the project page, or contribute to the discussion. A student at cambridge in the 1930s, philby was drawn to marxist ideas and was a member of what came to be known as the cambridge spies guy burgess, donald maclean and anthony blunt. Apr 27, 2014 kim philby, one of the most successful spies to work as a mole at the heart of the british establishment for the soviet union, had no regrets a previously unheard recording has revealed. Kim philby, the ringleader of the legendary cambridge spies. In the annals of espionage, one name towers above all others. Ben macintyres account of kim philbys long friendship with the mi6 spy nicholas elliott is. Ben macintyre has written a truly fabulous book about the fabulous kim philby the suave, dedicated, and most intriguing spy of the entire cold war era. Kim philby, one of the most successful spies to work as a mole at the heart of the british establishment for the soviet union, had no regrets a. Kim philby was the most notorious british defector and soviet mole in history. After graduating cambridge, kim philby 19121988 failed to land a position in the foreign service. In with my little eye, elliott gives an account of his last contacts with kim philby, in 1963. He volunteered to confront philby, in an effort to obtain a full written confession of his espionage.
Harold kim philby, the senior mi6 british liaison officer to the fbi and the cia, was secretly a soviet spy and leader of britains. The twoway it is a very, very dirty story, the notorious spy says in an archived film reel from 1981 that the bbc. Father, husband, traitor, spy kim philby, britains fabled third man, fled to the soviet union 50 years ago. Rare film emerges of doubleagent kim philby speaking.
Kim philby was the only man in history to have been made both an officer of the order of the british empire and a hero of the soviet union. Fifty years after kim philby defected to the soviet union, a bbc documentary looks at the blind spots in the british ruling class that made it so vulnerable to kgb penetration. Kim philby, british double agent, reveals all in secret video. Philby defected to the soviet union from britain in 1963. Master storyteller ben macintyres most ambitious work to date brings to life the twentieth centurys greatest spy story. Ben macintyres bottomlessly fascinating new book is an exploration of kim philby s friendships, particularly with nicholas elliott. Cambridge university spy ring kim philby, guy burgess. Nov 18, 20 fifty years after kim philby defected to the soviet union, a bbc documentary looks at the blind spots in the british ruling class that made it so vulnerable to kgb penetration.
Those closest to himlike his fellow mi6 officer and best friend since childhood, nicholas elliot, and the cias head of counterintelligence, james jesus angletonknew him as a loyal confidant and an. Kim philby and the great betrayal macintyre, ben, le carre, john on. The privileged son of a british diplomat, harold kim philby became one of the most famous spies of the 20th century when he defected to the soviet union in 1963 after a career in british intelligence. His family talk about one of the cold wars worst acts of treachery. Comrade philby is the fascinating story of a british agent and oxbridge gent who turned spy for the russians.
She is the author of the private life of kim philby. Aug 14, 2003 discover book depositorys huge selection of kim philby books online. Born in 1946, dudley tommy philby is the third of kims five children with his second of four wives, aileen furse philby. Jul 27, 2014 philby was one of the 20th centurys most legendary spies. Le carre betrayed by bad lot spy kim philby channel 4 news. Video of british super spy kim philby explaining how he. Comrade philby kgb spy documentary timeline youtube.
Ben macintyres a spy among friends the new york times. Isaacson writes when devouring this thriller about kim philby, the highlevel british spymaster who turned out to be a russian mole, i had to keep reminding myself that it was not a novel. Harold adrian russell kim philby 1 january 1912 11 may 1988 was a british intelligence officer and a double agent for the soviet union. Burgess, maclean and philby were apparently recruited in the 1930s to be soviet spies, possibly by blunt. A cultured and understated persona from the effortlessly superior establishment, whose civil style he relished, against whose rules of ideology he revolted. Kim philby, spies, and the dangers of paranoia the new yorker. Harold adrian russell philby, known to his muscovite companions as comrade kim. Kim philby biography birthday, trivia indian spy who2. He was apparently responsible for the deaths of many western agents whose activities he betrayed to the soviets during the 1940s and early 50s. Jan 01, 2015 for many, kim philby was the defining spy in an era rich in spy games and treachery. Jan 03, 2018 comrade philby is the fascinating story of a british agent and oxbridge gent who turned spy for the russians.
When devouring this thriller about kim philby, the highlevel british. Januar 1912 in ambala, punjab, britisch indien, heute haryana, indien. Kim philby and the great betrayal crown is the latest in ben macintyres series on twentiethcentury espionage including the bestselling operation mincemeat. Kim philby, byname of harold adrian russell philby, born january 1, 1912, ambala, indiadied may 11, 1988, moscow, russia, u. The twoway it is a very, very dirty story, the notorious spy says in. The daughter of kim philby, the mi6 agent who spied for the soviet union, has broken her silence to describe the admiration she feels for her father, 50 years since he defected to moscow in one of. The tape is of kim philby giving a secret lecture to the stasi, the east german intelligence service, in 1981. Kim philby and the great betrayal by ben macintyre, the ghost. Kim philby, british intelligence officer until 1951 and the most successful soviet double agent of the cold war period. He is widely considered historys most successful double spy.
A member of the british establishment, philby joined the secret intelligence service in 1940, rose to the head of soviet counterintelligence, and, as mi6s liaison with the cia and the fbi, betrayed every secret of allied operations to the. C this article has been rated as cclass on the projects quality scale. In 1963, he was revealed to be a member of the cambridge five, a spy ring which passed information to the soviet union during world war ii and in the early stages of the cold war. Philby era filho do diplomata john philby e nasceu na india, na epoca uma colonia britanica, onde o pai servia como magistrado. Kim philby s treacherous friendship with nicholas elliott ben macintyres account of kim philby s long friendship with the mi6 spy nicholas elliott is a riveting read. Elliott was born in london, the son of claude aurelius elliott, a don at cambridge and headmaster at eton, where nicholas was sent after durnford school, a prep school on the isle of purbeck in dorset after leaving trinity college, cambridge, elliott was offered a post in 1938 as honorary attache at the hague by sir nevile bland. From cambridge, soviet agents persuaded kim philby, guy burgess, donald maclean, anthony blunt, and john carincross into service for the soviet union. Philby in moscow in 1968, five years after defecting to the ussr. Ben macintyres account of kim philby s long friendship with the mi6 spy nicholas elliott is a riveting read. Oct 01, 2017 a new portrait of the british double agent kim philby, second from right, at a state art gallery in moscow. Philby was one of the 20th centurys most legendary spies. New york times bestseller the true story of kim philby, the cold wars most infamous spy, from the master espionage writer and author of the spy and the traitor. Kim philby had no regrets about betraying britain to the. This book details the blunt, burgess, philby, maclean and cairncross ussr spy ring inside the british intelligence services.
In all the books, articles and memoirs in which philby has figured it is striking how little attention, indeed, how much credence, is given to his belief. I would have been happy had it been three times as long mail on sunday the life of cambridge spy kim philby is analysed in this irresistibly readable study sunday times. 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. The writer, who has just landed a book deal with harper collins for her debut novel, the most difficult thing, has grown up with the legacy of kim philby s betrayal and defection to the soviet. Those closest to himlike his fellow mi6 officer and best friend since childhood, nicholas elliot, and the cias head of counterintelligence, james jesus angletonknew him as a loyal. Ben macintyres latest nonfiction thriller, a spy among friends, is about kim philby, the highlevel british spymaster who turned out to be a russian mole.
Kim philby s treacherous friendship with nicholas elliott. While working as a senior member of british intelligence, he spied on behalf of the soviet nkvd and kgb from the early 1930s until his defection. Ben macintyres bottomlessly fascinating new book is an exploration of kim philby s friendships, particularly with nicholas elliott other books on philby may have left one with a feeling of grudging respect, but a spy among friends draws out his icy cold heartthis book consists of 300 pages. Kim philby is within the scope of wikiproject espionage, which aims to improve wikipedias coverage of espionage, intelligence, and related topics. Discover book depositorys huge selection of kim philby books online. She was the last wife of kim philby, a kgb double agent who rose in rank through british intelligence along with the cambridge five. The name alone is enough to provoke a whole raft of visceral feelings about treachery, deceit, double dealing and betrayal. Nprs arun rath talks with author ben macintyre about his new book, a spy among friends, and the boozy secret to philby s success. Apr 09, 2016 video of british super spy kim philby explaining how he succeeded at spying nsotd3. Mar 28, 2014 to order a spy among friends or kim philby, each at.
Keystonegetty in a secret memorandum dated may 5, 1946, philby made a highly unusual and rare personal intervention. The 2005 film a different loyalty is an unattributed account taken from eleanor philby s book, kim philby. Philbys son, widow, speak on 50th anniversary of his. A close associate of notorious british spy kim philby, who defected to the soviet union in 1963 and died in moscow in 1988, boyadjiev has published his account with yekaterinburg publishing house.
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