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Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Oleg Gordievsky was bound for the KGB, yet he grew disillusioned with communism early on in life.
Chapter 2: Gordievsky’s early time abroad deepened his growing disillusionment with Soviet-style communism further.
Chapter 3: Gordievsky tried to alert Danish intelligence to his dissent, but they misunderstood the signal completely.
Chapter 4: In 1970, Gordievsky was marked significant, and MI6 approached him to spy for Britain against the Soviet Union abroad.
Chapter 5: As Gordievsky started working as an MI6 double agent, he also began a clandestine romance abroad.
Chapter 6: Returning to the Soviet Union, even with MI6 poised to extract him, Gordievsky orchestrated passage to London by himself.
Chapter 7: Gordievsky played a crucial Cold War role, revealing the psychology driving top Soviet leaders to MI6.
Chapter 8: A CIA mole exposed Gordievsky’s identity, leading to his sudden recall to Moscow immediately.
Chapter 9: Gordievsky ultimately escaped the Soviet Union, yet was forced to leave his family behind.
Chapter 10: Gordievsky found solace in London’s suburbs, under continued protection from MI6.
Description
The Spy and the Traitor (2018) details the real-life spy story of Oleg Gordievsky, the Soviet double-agent whose efforts contributed to the end of the Cold War. These blinks trace Gordievsky’s progress through the KGB and his years spying for MI6, the British secret service, before his final daring escape to the West.
Who Should Listen
- Fans of espionage and spy stories
- History buffs looking for a fresh perspective on the Cold War
- Political science nerds who want to see realpolitik in action