A Spy Among Friends, by Ben Macintyre

The following review was posted on Blogging for Books:

I was intrigued by A Spy Among Friends, by Ben Macintyre, but resisted reading it because I was afraid I did not have enough political and historical background knowledge to follow the story.  This concern proved to be unfounded.  I enjoyed the story and had no trouble following the context.  The only difficulty I encountered was with the numerous names and following the time line.  I would have liked a few more dates included in the story to help me keep track of where I was in time.  But aside from that, this is a fascinating story and interesting character study.    I felt that knowing the ending was a plus because it made each person’s actions all the more interesting.    I couldn’t help but put myself in Elliott and Angleton’s position regarding their friendship with Kim Philby and wonder how I would feel and react.  The sentence on page 15 about how easy it is to fool someone if you are telling them what they want to hear was very insightful and a good life’s lesson.    I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story mixed with intrigue, history and insightful character studies.  You can read the author’s bio as well as find the other books he has written at www.randonhouse.com. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books for my review.

People
Kim Philby	Nicholas Elliott	James Jesus Angleton
Wives: Alice “Litzi” Kohlman Aileen – Munchausen Eleanor Brewer Rufina Ivanovna   Father – St. John – Arab scholar, writer, explorer   Career: 1941 – head of Netherlands department, Soviet code name “Sonny” Recommended Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess to Soviets 1944 – M16 Station Chief in Switzerland 1946 – M16 Station Chief in Turkey 1949 – M16 Station Chief in Washington D. C. *Had access to all CIA and M16 information – passed on to Soviets June 1951 – first under suspicion, defended by Elliott and Angleton Resigned/fired 1955 – Press conference – amazing ability to lie 1956 – freelance correspondent in Beirut for Observer and Economist, agent for M16 1963 – confronted by Elliott, defected to Russia	Father – Sir Claude Aurelius Elliott – headmaster at Eton   Elizabeth Holberton - wife   Career: 1941 – head of Iberian Department 1942 – to Turkey 1959 – to Beirut 1962 – to London 1968 – Director of Requirements at M16 1968 - retired 1980s – unofficial adviser on intelligence to Margaret Thatcher	American   Career: 1944 – To Rome, reporting to Philby 1947 – to Washington D. C. – oversee espionage and counter-intelligence with Office of Special Operations (OSS) 1949 – Chief of Staff A – command of foreign intelligence operations *regular lunches with Philby 1974 – forced out of CIA – suspected everyone after learning truth about Philby
Others
Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess – recommended to Soviets by Philby (friends from Cambridge) 1951 – Maclean discovered and both he and Burgess escaped to Russia   Commander Lionel “Buster” Crabb 1956 – underwater surveillance of soviet ship – Soviets tipped off – Crabb killed – truth covered up – this was Elliott’s plan but he was not fired   Flora Soloman – Philby tried to recruit her in 1935 – she told Lord Rothchild about this in 1962   Jona von Ustinov “Klop” – German journalist opposed to Nazism   Ian Flemming – went to same school as Elliott

For Discussion:

NOTE: All pages refer to hardback edition of book.

1. At one point early in his career after an espionage plan failed, Elliott reflected that it had been “an object lesson in how highly intelligent people could be duped if persuaded to believe what they most wanted to believe.”  (page 15)  How did Philby’s career confirm that statement?

2. What was the influence of the “club atmosphere” and their upbringing on Elliott and Philby?

3. Were you surprised that there was so much drinking?  Do you think it is the same today?

4. What did you think about the two men’s education and training to work in espionage?  Are there special talents or skills necessary for this type of work?  Are the skills different now compared to then?

5. Discuss the similarities in the childhood of Philby and Elliott, particularly their fathers.  Both “lived under the shadow of imposing but distant fathers whose approval they longed for but never quite won.” (page 22)

6. The author described Philby by writing, “he enjoyed deception” and “he was addicted to spying” and as someone who valued “only one opinion, his own.”   (page 215) How does this description explain Philby’s actions?

7. The book mentioned that Philby was always adored by his children. (page 218)  Why do you think this was the case as he was away so much and they were sent to boarding schools?

8. Philby’s betrayal deeply affected those close to him?  How do you think you would have felt if he were your close friend?

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