Redwood: The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Extraordinary Spy | Ben Macintyre

From the bestselling author of The Spy and the Traitor ("John le Carré's nonfiction counterpart"--The New York Times) comes the ultimate true-life Cold War thriller: the story of a Russian double agent with a terrible secret--and the key to stopping a nuclear apocalypse.

The year is 1981. Tehran is in violent turmoil in the wake of the Iranian Revolution. The Soviets are planning to overthrow the Ayatollah's fledgling Islamist regime. If they do so, one response contemplated in the secret chambers of American power--unknown to the public--would be to strike with nuclear weapons. Redwood is the story of how, at the height of the Cold War, one mysterious double agent, whose intelligence reached the highest levels of American and British governments, cracked open the KGB, revealed the Kremlin's secret plot, and prevented Armageddon.

"Redwood" was the MI6 codename for this unsung, hitherto-unknown hero of the Cold War, a highly trained, six-foot-four Russian intelligence officer who chose to expose the KGB's deepest secrets, compelled to swap sides by a shaming secret of his own. Facing exposure, with both the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and his own KGB colleagues closing in, he demanded that MI6 try to smuggle him out of Iran in a high-stakes escape plan.

This is the gripping tale of one man's courage, and its extraordinary unintended consequences that still shape our world today. It's about a moving friendship between spies on opposite sides of the global conflict; about marriage, loyalty, betrayal and sexual dysfunction; and about how decisions made in secret can have huge, long-term ramifications.

Drawing on never-before-seen material from archives in multiple countries, and interviews with the participants including officers from MI6 and MI5, the KGB and CIA, Redwood plunges readers back into the shadowy world of The Spy and the Traitor. It lifts the lid on an unknown and highly significant Cold War victory, on the machinations of history's Great Game, and on how espionage really works.

Without Redwood, our world would be very different--and might not exist at all.

I grab each new book by Ben Macintyre and read it as fast as possible. He has a rare ability to turn history and espionage upside down and give us true, colourful stories that are at times difficult to believe. Redwood might be his best -- John GrishamThere are twists, turns, desires, betrayals and unexpected outcomes...But what makes this tale so engaging is how close we feel to both the key spies and the history at the book's heart...a triumph -- Clare Mulley, SpectatorA tale of brilliant tradecraft...a moral inquiry...Terrific -- Guy Walters, Independent'Redwood might be his best yet' -- John Grisham, author of A Time to Kill'The pre-eminent historian of the secret world . . .' -- Mick Herron author of Slow Horses'Ben Macintyre has a knack for finding the most fascinating storylines in history' -- David Grann, author of The Wager'Macintyre is one of the most gifted espionage writers around' -- Annie Jacobsen, author of Nuclear War'Ever-brilliant' -- The Bookseller'One of the great spy dramas of the past half-century' -- ITN'Sometimes comical, always gripping, utterly eye-opening' -- Radio Times     Author Biography: Ben Macintyre is the multimillion-copy bestselling author of books including Colditz, Agent Sonya, SAS: Rogue Heroes, The Spy and the Traitor, Agent Zigzag, Operation Mincemeat and A Spy Among Friends. He is a columnist and Associate Editor at The Times, and has worked as the newspaper's correspondent in New York, Paris and Washington. Several of his books have been made into films and television series, including Operation Mincemeat, A Spy Among Friends and SAS: Rogue Heroes.

Ben Macintyre is the multimillion-copy bestselling author of books including Colditz, Agent Sonya, SAS: Rogue Heroes, The Spy and the Traitor, Agent Zigzag, Operation Mincemeat and A Spy Among Friends. He is a columnist and Associate Editor at The Times, and has worked as the newspaper's correspondent in New York, Paris and Washington. Several of his books have been made into films and television series, including Operation Mincemeat, A Spy Among Friends and SAS: Rogue Heroes.