Published by Bloomsbury 2014

You might have seen the outstanding TV series but, like me, you may not (until now) have read the book on which it was based. Aptly subtitled ‘Philby and the Great Betrayal’, it is exactly what it says on the cover ‘a story of loyalty, trust and treachery’. However, if you’re expecting it to be identical to the tv series, you may be disappointed, but do persevere. It’s a slow burn and requires concentration. Fortunately, it’s well written, well researched and containing more detail (and more names) than the tv series.

So many familiar names: not just Philby but also Blunt, Burgess and Maclean. The root source of many of the later problems can be found in the statement by the then deputy head of MI6, speaking of a potential candidate “I was asked about him, and I said I knew his people”.

An astonishing story not just outlining the impact of the actions of people like Kim Philby, but the incredible weakness of the recruitment process operating at the time which allowed so many traitors access to secret material enabling them to continue betraying their country for decades.

There’s an unexpected link to Cornwall too. One of the most surprising references concerns a convoluted journey back to the U.K. by Nicholas Elliott who is described as travelling “by train to Lebanon…by air via Cairo, Algiers and Casablanca, before finally arriving in Newquay”.

Fascinating.