{"product_id":"an-impeccable-spy-9781408857816","title":"An Impeccable Spy","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSHORTLISTED FOR THE PUSHKIN HOUSE PRIZE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e''The most formidable spy in history'' \u003c\/b\u003eIAN FLEMING\u003cb\u003e''His work was impeccable'' \u003c\/b\u003eKIM PHILBY\u003cb\u003e''The spy to end spies'' \u003c\/b\u003eJOHN LE CARRÉBorn of a German father and a Russian mother, Richard Sorge moved in a world of shifting alliances and infinite possibility. In the years leading up to and during the Second World War, he became a fanatical communist  and the Soviet Union's most formidable spy.  Combining charm with ruthless manipulation, he infiltrated and influenced the highest echelons of German, Chinese and Japanese society. His intelligence proved pivotal to the Soviet counter-offensive in the Battle of Moscow, which in turn determined the outcome of the war itself.  Drawing on a wealth of declassified Soviet archives, this is a major biography of one of the greatest spies who ever lived.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003efascinating \u003c\/b\u003ebiography ... Owen Matthews tells the story of Sorge’s extraordinary life with \u003cb\u003etremendous verve and expertise\u003c\/b\u003e and a real talent for \u003ci\u003emise en scène ... \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe portrait of Sorge himself that emerges is richly authentic\u003c\/b\u003e -- William Boyd * New Statesman *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGloriously readable\u003c\/b\u003e … Every chapter of Matthews’s superbly researched biography reads like something from an Eric Ambler thriller -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003esuperb \u003c\/b\u003ebiography … \u003cb\u003eMore than a hundred books have been written about him and this is undoubtedly the best\u003c\/b\u003e: detailed, wry, sympathetic and occasionally oddly moving -- Ben Macintyre * The Times *\u003cbr\u003eA vividly told story, thoroughly researched and well-crafted ... \u003cb\u003eI love a thrilling spy story, especially one as superbly narrated as this, full of Bond-like drama\u003c\/b\u003e about Sorge’s brushes with death, his love of fast cars and women ... \u003cb\u003eA highly relevant book for today\u003c\/b\u003e * Financial Times *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMagnificently written\u003c\/b\u003e … \u003ci\u003eAn Impeccable Spy\u003c\/i\u003e is \u003cb\u003epacked with humour and insight\u003c\/b\u003e and all served up with a rare lightness of touch … Ben Macintyre and John le Carré fans alike will find themselves very much at home -- Oliver Bullough * Observer *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eVivid and revealing\u003c\/b\u003e ... Within a few pages, it is clear that \u003ci\u003eAn Impeccable Spy\u003c\/i\u003e is going to be a very good read ... Better than any previous biography -- Christopher Andrew * Literary Review *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA gripping human story with the complexity of a political thriller \u003c\/b\u003e… An excellent history, which sheds new light on Sorge and his work. Unless something significant turns up about him in the German Nazi-era intelligence archives, it is likely to be \u003cb\u003ethe definitive work on him in English\u003c\/b\u003e * Standpoint *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrilliant \u003c\/b\u003e... A clear-eyed, deeply researched and finely-judged portrait -- Saul David * Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003e[An] impressive biography … Matthews captures all the drama of Sorge’s story … The complexities of Soviet, German and Japanese politics and infighting of the time are skilfully navigated and the personalities brought vividly to life. \u003cb\u003eWith this book as our evidence, we can say that Sorge was an impeccable spy, and also that Matthews is an impeccable biographer\u003c\/b\u003e -- Vin Arthey * Scotsman *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eRiveting \u003c\/b\u003e... An eye-rubbing story * Spectator *\u003cbr\u003eAnyone praised by John le Carré deserves a\u003cb\u003e meticulously researched and atmospheric\u003c\/b\u003e biography such as Own Matthews’ \u003ci\u003eAn Impeccable Spy\u003c\/i\u003e -- Terry Philpot * Tablet *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eRiveting \u003c\/b\u003e… Owen Matthews sticks to the facts and gives a vivid portrayal of the man and his times … \u003cb\u003eA cut above\u003c\/b\u003e -- John Green * Morning Star *","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48866820391255,"sku":"9781408857816","price":10.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781408857816.jpg?v=1722280147","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/an-impeccable-spy-9781408857816","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}