Kim Philby

The Unknown Story of the KGB's Master-Spy

By: Tim Milne

Narrated by: Liam Tobin

Kim Philby, the so-called Third Man in the Cambridge spy ring, was the Cold War's most infamous traitor, a Soviet spy at the heart of British intelligence. Philby joined Britain's secret service MI6 during the war and went on to head the section tasked with rooting out Russian spies before becoming the service's chief liaison officer with the CIA. He betrayed hundreds of British and US agents to the Russians and compromised numerous operations inside the Soviet Union.

Tim Milne was Philby's closest and oldest friend. They studied at Westminster School together and when Philby joined MI6 he immediately recruited Milne as his deputy. Philby's treachery was a huge blow to Milne and, after he retired, he wrote a highly revealing description of Philby's time in the secret service.

Publication of the memoirs was banned by MI6 but, after Milne's death in 2010, his family were determined that this insider's account of the Philby affair be published. Edited to include newly released top-secret documents showing how the KGB's master spy managed to fool MI6 even after he defected to Moscow, this is the final word on one of the world's most notorious spies by the MI6 colleague who knew him best, the insider account of the Philby affair that Britain's spy chiefs did not want you to hear.

©2014 Oakhill Publishing (P)2014 Tim Milne

Critic reviews

"Elegant and rich in detail, it provides intriguing glimpses of the man who would become the 20th century's most notorious British spy and traitor." ( Mail on Sunday)

"An often intimate portrait of the Third Man, candid in its assessments." ( The Telegraph)

"[Milne] explains one of the most enduring mysteries surrounding the notorious Soviet spy." ( The Guardian)

A man who went into the cold

As an anti Le Carre's heroe, Kim Philby betrayed both the British and the American espionage's apparatus causing death and mayhem. A clear memory of how a personal resentment and ego can condemn millons to the claws of the ravenous masterminds that dwelt the communist's nightmare. An excellent audiobook.

The author’s autobiography

A great deal of background on British espionage and the author. Much less than either on Philby. It seemed to me he was making excuses for Philby’s …yes he was a traitor, yes he was responsible for the deaths of many Brits but other than that he was quite a lovely chap.

Not Quite What It Says On The Tin

As another review stated, this is ultimately more about the author than Philby, but is nevertheless fascinating.

Meh

This was more about the author. He had little to say of consequence about Philby. What he did have to say was dismissing or doubting the things he was a used of doing.