Stalin's Apostles - by Antonia Senior (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The riveting story of the ring of spies known as the Cambridge Five, who infiltrated the highest levels of the British establishment and helped Stalin cement a half century of Soviet domination over Eastern Europe

The Cambridge Five was the most infamous spy ring in history. Its members--Kim Philby, Anthony Blunt, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, and John Cairncross--met at university, amid the left-wing ferment overtaking British campuses between the World Wars. The Five were soon recruited by Soviet agents and pledged allegiance to Stalin, and each quickly took up a place in the British government. From the 1930s, they funneled top-secret intelligence to the USSR, some so sensitive that their Soviet handlers feared a double cross. Their unmasking in 1951 rocked Britain, helping to end a chummy, boys' club stranglehold on the country's institutions of power. But, as Antonia Senior shows, the Five's treachery had much graver and more devastating consequences across the world. Their work invaluably aided Stalin as he sought to build a Red Empire, condemning millions across Eastern Europe to decades of repression, violence, and death.

Rife with code names, smuggled documents, clandestine rendezvous, and copious amounts of gin, Stalin's Apostles wields impeccable research and storytelling and all the thrilling details and high tragedy of a classic spy thriller.

Review Quotes

"A tour de force. As elegantly written as it is perspicacious and impeccably researched, Stalin's Apostles provides a penetrating and timely reassessment of one of the 20th century's greatest spying scandals, revealing the dark reality behind the Cambridge Five."--Roger Moorhouse, author of Poland 1939

"Antonia Senior delivers a gripping, beautifully written account of the Cambridge Five, whose betrayal reshaped twentieth-century geopolitics and the course of the Cold War. Equal parts spy novel and sober history, Stalin's Apostles is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how espionage and ideological zeal can alter the fate of nations." --David McCloskey, author of Damascus Station

"Beautifully written and utterly compelling, Stalin's Apostles is a brilliant reassessment of the Cambridge Five whose naive faith in communism is tellingly juxtaposed with the brutal reality of Stalin's rule. Their betrayals had serious consequences for the West, as Senior makes clear, yet they lived out their days in Soviet exile with few regrets. A cautionary tale by a rising star of nonfiction."--Saul David, author of Operation Thunderbolt

"Extraordinary. Beautifully written, it draws you in from the very first moment. A wonderfully forensic re-examination of the infamous Cambridge Spies and the extent of their betrayal."--Michael Smith, award-winning journalist, author of Killer Elite

"Understanding why the Cambridge spies really betrayed their country has eluded historians for decades. Senior's new book is impressive in its scope of ground-breaking research and depth of historical context to unpack the motivations of these enigmatic men. A powerful narrative..."--Dr. Helen Fry, intelligence historian, author of The White Lady

"Antonia Senior has done that rare thing: written an account of the Cambridge Five with a historian's fidelity to fact and a novelist's eye for character. Her meticulous research and elegant writing bring to life the story of class-conscious Englishmen whose youthful embrace of Communism led to the twentieth century's most audacious spy network. It's a spellbinding tale of espionage, friendship, and betrayal. Brilliant."--Paul Vidich, author of Beirut Station

"A brilliant book. Deep research and dazzling writing make Stalin's Apostles an appallingly entertaining read. A definitive work on one of the 20th century's most treacherous conspiracies."--Tim Weiner, author of The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century

"A definitive and important account of the most infamous spy ring ever, the Cambridge Five, who betrayed their country with devastating consequences, told with the propulsive force of a spy novel."--Joseph Finder, New York Times-bestselling author of The Oligarch's Daughter

About the Author

Antonia Senior is a writer, journalist, and podcaster. She is the host of the SpyMasters podcast, which interviews all the biggest names in spy writing. A book critic at The Times of London and the author of three works of historical fiction, she lives in London.