The Spy and the Traitor

“It’s the story of Oleg Gordievsky, who was probably the most important British spy in Soviet Russia since the Second World War…it’s an incredible read. It’s like a truly rip-roaring piece of the absolutely best spy fiction.” Read more...

The Best Nonfiction Books of 2018

Fiammetta Rocco, Artists & Art Critic

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. He’s also the only double agent Britain ever managed to get out of the Soviet Union alive. John le Carré called The Spy and the Traitor the “best true spy story” he had ever read, and it was shortlisted for the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize as one of the best nonfiction books of 2018. If that’s not enough of a reason to start listening, Five Books CEO Juliet Frost says it’s the best audiobook she’s listened to all year.

Narrator: Ben MacIntryre

Length: 14 hours and 32 minutes

Best History Audiobooks