Is the spy and the traitor true?

The Spy and the Traitor by British journalist Ben MacIntyre is a true story which reads like a thriller. It’s the story of Oleg Gordievsky, a Soviet KGB officer who became a double agent and worked for Britain’s CIA equivalent, MI6.

Why did Gordievsky become a spy?

But Gordievsky was a different species: an ideological spy. “He was motivated by variety of factors, although ideology was the principal one.” Macintyre writes that in his “job interview” with his British handlers in 1974, Gordievsky told them, “No money.

Who wrote The Traitor and the Spy?

Ben Macintyre
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War/Authors

The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre review – the astonishing story of a cold war superspy. Oleg Gordievsky was the most significant British agent of the cold war. For 11 years, he spied for MI6.

What is espionage and examples?

Espionage is defined as the act of spying or the use of spies by a government or a company. An example of espionage is when a spy infiltrates the government of another country to learn valuable state secrets.

What do you mean by envision?

envisioned; envisioning; envisions. Essential Meaning of envision. chiefly US : to think of (something that you believe might exist or happen in the future) : to picture (something) in your mind The inventor envisioned many uses for his creation.

Who is Oleg Gordievsky?

Oleg Antonovich Gordievsky, CMG ( Оле́г Анто́нович Гордие́вский; born 10 October 1938) is a former colonel of the KGB who became KGB resident-designate ( rezident) and bureau chief in London, and was a double agent, providing information to the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) from 1974 to 1985.

What happened to Alexei Gordievsky?

In 2008, Gordievsky’s name made headlines when he alleged that “rogue elements in Moscow” had tried to assassinate him by giving him, through an acquaintance, poisoned sleeping pills. He was hospitalized, unconscious, for almost three days, but eventually recovered.

When did Ames find out about Gordievsky?

An FBI report later stated that Ames had not advised the Soviets about Gordievsky until 13 June 1985; by that time, the spy was under KGB surveillance but he was not charged with treason as of 19 July 1985 when MI6 agents began the process of his escape.

Why did Gordievsky decide to go to Moscow?

His MI6 handlers assured him they’d picked up no sign anything was wrong. They urged him to go to Moscow, but they also provided him with an escape plan in case he signaled that he was in danger. Gordievsky decided to risk his life and go.