A Spy Named Orphan by Roland Philipps5/13/2023 ![]() Once upon a time there was a thing for 16-yr olds called GCE O-level 'English Language & Oral'. I couldn't warm to Jonathan Cowley's narration. ![]() I returned this audiobook after the first chapter or two. I'm sure there was a bit more to it than that which would explain his rapid rise through the ranks. ![]() I wish it had explored his personal career accomplishments in a bit more detail than just pointing out he ran a tight ship and did great staff work. This book puts a heavy focus on Maclean's motives, boozing and carousing, family life etc. Ultimately, he was outed through American intelligence code cracking efforts. ![]() At the same time, he compromised virtually every important secret that came his way in a career that took him to important postings in London, Paris, Washington, DC and Cairo in the period that lead up to and included: WWII, the Manhattan Project, and the early Cold War. Maclean spied for the Soviets for over fifteen years while rapidly rising through the ranks of the foreign service. ![]() The British foreign and intelligence services come off extremely badly in the telling. This audiobook draws on recently declassified official sources to present an interesting, informative and very sympathetic account of the life of the famous British spy Donald Maclean. Excellent & Draws on Recently Declassified Sources ![]()
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