Synopses & Reviews
A Kirkus Best Fiction Book of 2012
When Kim Philby fled to Moscow in 1963, he became the most notorious double agent in the history of espionage. Recruited into His Majestys Secret Intelligence Service at the beginning of World War II, he rose rapidly in the ranks to become the chief liaison officer with the CIA in Washington after the war. The exposure of other members of the group of British double agents known as the Cambridge Five led to the revelation that Philby had begun spying for the Soviet Union years before he joined the British intelligence service. He eventually fled to Moscow one jump ahead of British agents who had come to arrest him, and spent the last twenty-five years of his life in Russia.
In Young Philby, Robert Littell recounts the little-known story of the spys early years. Through the words of Philbys friends and lovers, as well as his Soviet and English handlers, we follow the evolution of a mysteriously beguiling man who kept his masters on both sides of the Iron Curtain guessing about his ultimate loyalties. As each layer of ambiguity is exposed, questions surface: What made this infamous double (or should that be triple?) agent tick? And, in the end, who was the real Kim Philby?
Review
“A dizzying, “what if” take on (in)famous British spy Kim Philby. … Littell shows particular skill at recreating pulse-quickening epic scenes of conflict—the Russian-backed uprising against Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, the war against fascist dictator Francisco Franco, and the horrors of Stalins kangaroo courts and of Moscow prisons. … A Cold-War spy novel for the top shelf.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A riveting read."
—Frederick Forsyth
Review
“A dizzying, 'what if' take on (in)famous British spy Kim Philby. … Littell shows particular skill at recreating pulse-quickening epic scenes of conflict—the Russian-backed uprising against Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, the war against fascist dictator Francisco Franco, and the horrors of Stalins kangaroo courts and of Moscow prisons. … A Cold-War spy novel for the top shelf.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A riveting read." —Frederick Forsyth
Praise for Robert Littell
“One of those writers, like Elmore Leonard, who have risen far above genre... One of the most talented, most original voices in American fiction today, period.”—The Washington Post
“If Robert Littell didnt invent the spy novel, he should have.”—Tom Clancy
“Psychologically interesting thrillers that rival in their intensity and the delivery of their plots the best work of John le Carré.”—Chicago Tribune
“Along with Alan Furst, the best American spy writer currently at work.”—Daily Telegraph (UK)
“Arguably, along with le Carré and Alan Furst, one of the best three or four espionage writers alive.”
—The Boston Globe
“One of the most original and authoritative writers of spy fiction of our time.” —The London Literary Review
“The American master of literary espionage.” —The Independent (UK)
Review
“For readers who savor both history and absurdity, this fascinating novel is not to be missed, and I persist in my belief that Littell is one of the most underrated of American novelists.” —The Washington Post
“Arguably, along with le Carré and Alan Furst, one of the best three or four espionage writers alive. … Thanks to the narrative gifts and psychological insights of Robert Littell we come away from the novel with a dramatically inventive and utterly entertaining portrait of a deceptive young genius in a confusing and murderous time.” —Boston Globe
“One of the most original and authoritative writers of spy fiction of our time.” —The London Literary Review
“A dizzying, 'what if' take on (in)famous British spy Kim Philby. … Littell shows particular skill at recreating pulse-quickening epic scenes of conflict—the Russian-backed uprising against Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, the war against fascist dictator Francisco Franco, and the horrors of Stalins kangaroo courts and of Moscow prisons. … A Cold-War spy novel for the top shelf.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A riveting read." —Frederick Forsyth
“There are many incidental pleasures to be had, not least the way Littell combines deep knowledge of spycraft with jovial levity.” —The Guardian (UK)
“Incredibly crafted … Littell recreates the tangled, messy web of lies that surround a double agents life beautifully.” —CriminalElement.com
“The American master of literary espionage.” —The Independent (UK)
“A fascinating story…. Those who enjoy cold war espionage, spy tradecraft, World War II history, or plain old-fashioned good writing will appreciate this novel.” —Washington Independent Review of Books
Praise for Robert Littell
“One of those writers, like Elmore Leonard, who have risen far above genre... One of the most talented, most original voices in American fiction today, period.”—The Washington Post
“If Robert Littell didnt invent the spy novel, he should have.”—Tom Clancy
“Psychologically interesting thrillers that rival in their intensity and the delivery of their plots the best work of John le Carré.”—Chicago Tribune
“Along with Alan Furst, the best American spy writer currently at work.”—Daily Telegraph (UK)
Review
“For readers who savor both history and absurdity, this fascinating novel is not to be missed, and I persist in my belief that Littell is one of the most underrated of American novelists.” —The Washington Post
“Arguably, along with le Carré and Alan Furst, one of the best three or four espionage writers alive. … Thanks to the narrative gifts and psychological insights of Robert Littell we come away from the novel with a dramatically inventive and utterly entertaining portrait of a deceptive young genius in a confusing and murderous time.” —Boston Globe
“One of the most original and authoritative writers of spy fiction of our time.” —The London Literary Review
“A dizzying, 'what if' take on (in)famous British spy Kim Philby. … Littell shows particular skill at recreating pulse-quickening epic scenes of conflict—the Russian-backed uprising against Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, the war against fascist dictator Francisco Franco, and the horrors of Stalins kangaroo courts and of Moscow prisons. … A Cold-War spy novel for the top shelf.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A riveting read." —Frederick Forsyth
“There are many incidental pleasures to be had, not least the way Littell combines deep knowledge of spycraft with jovial levity.” —The Guardian (UK)
“Incredibly crafted … Littell recreates the tangled, messy web of lies that surround a double agents life beautifully.” —CriminalElement.com
Praise for Robert Littell
“One of those writers, like Elmore Leonard, who have risen far above genre... One of the most talented, most original voices in American fiction today, period.”—The Washington Post
“If Robert Littell didnt invent the spy novel, he should have.”—Tom Clancy
“Psychologically interesting thrillers that rival in their intensity and the delivery of their plots the best work of John le Carré.”—Chicago Tribune
“Along with Alan Furst, the best American spy writer currently at work.”—Daily Telegraph (UK)
Review
“John Lee makes this novel based on the true story of one of the twentieth centurys most notorious spies, “Kim” Philby, as riveting an account as a listener could wish for...Lees performance brings credible insights into the early techniques of spycraft during WWII and the Cold War as well as offering fascinating character portraits of some of those who influenced the young agent.” -
AudioFile Magazine “John Lee gives each character an authentic accent, German, Russian, upper-crust Brit, even Philbys ever-present stutter, as he skillfully moves the narration along.” - BookPage
Synopsis
An elegant, twisty spy story by a true master of the craft Bestselling novelist Robert Littell employs all his considerable skills in telling the story of Kim Philby through the eyes of more than twenty true-life characters. As each layer is revealed, the question arises: Who really was this man? When Kim Philby fled to Moscow in 1963, he became the most infamous double agent in history. A member of Britain's intelligence service since World War II, he had risen to become their chief officer in Washington, D.C. after the war. The exposure of other members of the group of double agents known as the Cambridge Five led to the revelation that he had been working for Russia for even longer than he had been part of MI6. Yet he escaped, and spent the last twenty-five years of his life in Moscow. In Young Philby, Robert Littell tells the story of the spy's early years. In the words of his friends, lovers, and Soviet handlers we see the development of a fascinating, flawed man who kept people guessing about his ideals and allegiances until the very end.
Synopsis
When Kim Philby fled to Moscow in 1963, he became the most notorious double agent in the history of espionage. Recruited into His Majestys Secret Intelligence Service at the beginning of World War II, he rose to become the chief liaison officer with the CIA in Washington after the war. The exposure of a group of British double agents known as the Cambridge Five led to the revelation that Philby had begun spying for the Soviet Union years before he joined the British intelligence service. He eventually fled to Moscow and spent the last twenty-five years of his life in Russia.
In Young Philby, Robert Littell recounts the little-known story of the spys early years, exploring the evolution of a mysteriously beguiling man who kept his masters on both sides of the Iron Curtain guessing about his ultimate loyalties. As each layer of ambiguity is exposed, the question surfaces: Who was the real Kim Philby?
About the Author
ROBERT LITTELL is the author of sixteen previous novels and the nonfiction book If Israel Lost the War, written with Shimon Peres, President of Israel. He has been awarded both the Gold Dagger and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for his fiction. His novel The Company was a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a television miniseries. He lives in France. John Lee has read more than 100 audiobooks. His work has garnered multiple Earphones Awards and won AudioFile's Best Voice in Fiction & Classics in both 2008 and 2009. Lee narrated the audiobook for A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin, volume four of A Song of Ice and Fire. He has also read for Jack London, John Banville, Charles Dickens, and Barbara Taylor Bradford.