The Anatomy Of A Traitor: A History Of Espionage And Betrayal

Description

What makes someone betray their country, their friends, everything they have been brought up to value? This book will focus on the critical moment in a spy's life: that split-second when they decide to embrace a double life; to cheat and hide and hurt; to risk disgrace - even death - without any guarantee of being rewarded or even recognised. Each chapter will centre on a different spy, following the path they took that lead, finally, to their treachery. Were they propelled by personal convictions? Blackmailed and left without a choice? Too desperate for money to think about the consequences? It will offer a compelling psychological portrait of these men and women, homing unerringly on the fault-lines and shady corners of their characters, their weaknesses and their strengths, the lies they tell other people, and the lies they always end up telling themselves.

Author description

MICHAEL SMITH is an award-winning journalist and the author of a number of bestselling books on spies, special forces and codebreaking. Formerly a member of the British Army's Intelligence Corps before joining the BBC, he has been a reporter and defence.