Author:Ben Macintyre
Set chiefly in the post revolutionary Iran of the early eighties, this book recounts the true story of a Russian KGB double agent based in Tehran who was given the code name Redwood after he approached the British Embassy asking to be allowed to defect in return for his knowledge – and with an added rather unusual request for medical help. This is a long and very detailed book, with the first 150 or so pages devoted to recounting the back-story of the key figures, as well as looking at the political situation on the ground in Iran. The action picks up pace with covert meetings with an MI6 officer in the back streets of Tehran to construct a hopefully foolproof plan to extricate Redwood after a year of staying in post while passing on information about Soviet plans to overthrow the Ayatollah’s fledgling regime, an event which would have then inevitably drawn in American involvement. As with all best laid plans, rapidly evolving events meant it largely fell by the wayside to be replaced by a rather ad hoc on the hoof alternative. This was a high stakes game that demanded great courage and a steady nerve, but it was one that ultimately was to produce dividends for many years to come. Actually though, this is in a sense almost secondary, because the main thing that springs out of the book is the bond of friendship that developed between the two main players and the lasting loyalty that created. As you’d expect from the author, this is a meticulously researched look at these, and indeed subsequent, events which draws on interviews with the participants and never before seen material from the intelligence archives of multiple counties, and with current situation in Iran the timing really couldn’t be more prescient.
Length of Read:Long
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
If you haven’t read Macintyre’s books before then there are plenty of great ones to go at, such as Operation Mincemeat and Agent Zigzag. .
One thing you’ve learned
Friendship, secrets, loyalty, lies, sex, betrayal and let’s throw in some all round double dealing too – what more can you want from a book!
Ben McIntyre writes great books; Mincemeat was great, and Agent Sonya is good. I found the SAS one a bit much – just felt like a boatload of anecdotes tied together.
His cold War spy stories are absolutely top notch though and almost all ready like thrillers.
Spy and the Traitor about Oleg Gordievsky is just breathtaking stuff in particular.
thanks for the review, wasn’t aware he has a new one out. I’ll be getting this.
This was a book of the Week on Radio 4 and those who’d like to dip into it will find it on BBC Sounds.
I second Bargepole’s recommendation.
I’ll be checking this out, as I’ve enjoyed most of his previous books. He tells a good story, and his contacts book must be extraordinary.
I too was a bit disappointed with his SAS Rogue Heroes, but it’s still a much better account than the TV adaptation, which seems to have replaced the real-life brave men full of inititative with a gang of uncontrollable, trigger-happy maniacs. Macintyre’s books (and the occasional TV documentaries he makes/presents) are much better for being more low-key.
I always enjoy Damien Lewis’s SAS books.
I’ve only read one or two, but they were very good.
Yes, this is on the reading list.
Agent Zigzag and Operation Mincemeat are excellent books: a synthesis of historical fact and novelistic pacing.
I can thoroughly recommend Ben MacIntyre’s book on Colditz, which is probably the definitive account of the castle’s role as a prisoner of war camp in World War Two. I visited Colditz with a tour group back in February, but to be honest reading the book was the better experience.