While looking for new books I stumbled across this title. I had recently read a few books about spies, so decided to give this one a go.
This book covers a vast amount of time, thereby making it a great introductory book into the world of intelligence between the Soviet Union and the United States and Great Britain primarily.
The book can only provide an overview of the stories involved. If there is a particular spy story that catches your interest you can always find a detailed book about that event. For example Walton makes reference to the defection of Oleg Gordievsky including how one of the women assisting in the escape changed her baby’s diaper on the trunk of the car to prevent the border control dogs from discovering Gordievsky in the trunk. Ben Macintyre outlines Gordievsky’s life and escape in The Spy and the Traitor (which I highly recommend).
The last chapter of the book pivoted away from Russia and focused on China. Perhaps if Walton had spent more time on China earlier in the book this transition could have been better. As it was it didn’t seem to fit into the context of the book.
Overall I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars if the last chapter had been excluded or had been introduced throughout the book. Since it was not I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
Thomas Aquinas is credited as one of the greatest proponents of natural law. During his time in Cologne he was taught by Albertus Magnus. Magnus used the teachings of Aristotle in his mentorship of Thomas Aquinas.
Samuel Adams believed in American Independence from Great Britain. He is one of the most well know Son's of Liberty. On August 1, 1776 he gave a speech to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
“Charity feeds the poor, so does pride; charity builds an hospital, so does pride. In this they differ: charity gives her glory to God; pride takes her glory from man.”
Francis Quarles
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Thursday 1:00AM
Behind a large mahogany desk in an oversized office hung a portrait. The recess lighting in the room was such that this portrait was always a glow in light, even when the rest of the room was dark. Much like a painting of a medieval king this figure stood arrayed in all his glory. It would be the first thing anyone entering the office would notice. The gold frame only added to eye catching portrait.
If an individual were so inclined they could look about the office and find twelve other portraits of the man. The portrait behind his desk was the most recent and the most grand. Also above the door to exit the office was another portrait of the man. The first and last thing anyone would see when entering or exiting the office was his face.
In addition to his portraits, one would also find his name etched on all of the stationary in the room. If you needed to borrow a pen, that would have his name on it to. There could never be any mistaking who this office belonged to.
Currently two men occupied the office. The man who owned the office and the man ...
