ONE OF THE ECONOMIST'S BEST BOOKS OF 2025 • The definitive history of Russia’s most secret spy program, from the earliest days of the Soviet Union to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and a revelatory examination of how that hidden history shaped both Russia and the West.More than a century ago, the new Bolshevik government began sending Soviet citizens abroad as deep-cover spies, training them to pose as foreign aristocrats, merchants, and students. Over time,...

La historia nunca contada del programa de espionaje más secreto de Rusia, desde la Revolución bolchevique hasta la invasión de Ucrania.En 2010, dos décadas después del fin de la Guerra Fría, diez espías rusos fueron arrestados en Estados Unidos tras ocultar su verdadera identidad a sus amigos, sus vecinos e incluso a sus hijos.Formaban parte de un programa de espionaje iniciado casi un siglo antes, cuando el gobierno revolucionario bolchevique comenzó a env...

In The Long Hangover, Shaun Walker presents a deeply reported, bottom-up explanation of Russia's resurgence under Putin. By cleverly exploiting the memory of the Soviet victory over fascism in World War II, Putin's regime has made ordinary Russians feel that their country is great again. Walker not only explains Putin's goals and the government's official manipulations of history, but also focuses on ordinary Russians and their motivations. He charts how Putin raised victory in WW...

Shortlisted for the ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction 2026**'Absolutely fascinating' Andrew MarrAN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025****AN i PAPER BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025'A brilliant historical investigation that's as gripping as a Le Carré novel' Tom Burgis**In 2010, two decades after the Cold War had ended, ten Russian spies were arrested in America, having hidden their true identities from their friends, neighbours and...

Nel 2010 negli Stati Uniti furono arrestate dieci spie russe che, sotto false identità, si erano infiltrate nella società americana per trasmettere informazioni riservate a Mosca. Nessuno sapeva che fossero russi, nemmeno i loro figli, né tantomeno immaginava che fossero delle spie. Per quanto oggi il confronto tra Mosca e l'Occidente si avvalga di strumenti diversi e sempre più sofisticati, non può prescindere dai vecchi e collaudati metodi dello spionaggio, in particolare da quell'ambizi...

In 2010 werden in Amerika tien Russische spionnen gearresteerd, nadat ze jarenlang hun ware identiteit hadden verborgen voor hun vrienden, buren en zelfs hun kinderen. Ze maakten deel uit van een spionageprogramma dat bijna een eeuw eerder was begonnen, toen de Sovjetregering burgers naar het buitenland stuurde die zich voordeden als aristocraten, kooplieden en studenten. Sommigen kregen toegang tot uiterst geheime informatie, anderen bezweken onder de druk van een dubbelleven. Op basis va...

In 2010 werden in Amerika tien Russische spionnen gearresteerd, nadat ze jarenlang hun ware identiteit hadden verborgen voor hun vrienden, buren en zelfs hun kinderen. Ze maakten deel uit van een spionageprogramma dat bijna een eeuw eerder was begonnen, toen de Sovjetregering burgers naar het buitenland stuurde die zich voordeden als aristocraten, kooplieden en studenten. Sommigen kregen toegang tot uiterst geheime informatie, anderen bezweken onder de druk van een dubbelleven.Op ba...

ONE OF THE ECONOMIST'S BEST BOOKS OF 2025 • The definitive history of Russia’s most secret spy program, from the earliest days of the Soviet Union to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and a revelatory examination of how that hidden history shaped both Russia and the West.More than a century ago, the new Bolshevik government began sending Soviet citizens abroad as deep-cover spies, training them to pose as foreign aristocrats, merchants, and students. Over time,...

'A brilliant historical investigation that's as gripping as a Le Carré novel' Tom Burgis'Shaun Walker skilfully shows how Russia's modern-day election meddling is rooted in the subterfuge and trickery of the bad old days. This is a fascinating read.' Oliver Bullough'A gripping history critical to understanding many of Russia's influence operations today.' Catherine Belton'Sinister, clandestine and deadly - t...

Sok száz órányi interjú és többtucatnyi országban végzett kutatás eredménye ez a letehetetlen könyv. Betekintést nyújt a KGB legbelsőbb működésébe, az alvóügynökök és szuperkémek néha hosszú évekig, akár évtizedekig tartó kiképzésének bonyolult módszereibe. Ezek az emberek arisztokratáknak, kereskedőknek, futároknak álcázva dolgoztak a kijelölt terepen. Rengeteg erőfeszítést igényelt az is, hogy ellentmondásos szerepüket minden körülmények között el tudják játszani: úgy kellett például a n...

Negli ultimi mesi del 2021 i servizi d’intelligence di Stati Uniti e Regno Unito sapevano con certezza che la Russia avrebbe attaccato l’Ucraina. Ma i paesi europei, e soprattutto Kiev, non hanno preso sul serio i loro avvertimenti. In un’inchiesta basata su più di cento interviste a funzionari, politici e diplomatici, Shaun Walker racconta le settimane prima della guerra e indaga le ragioni di un drammatico errore di valutazione.

La historia nunca contada del programa de espionaje más secreto de Rusia, desde la Revolución bolchevique hasta la invasión de Ucrania.En 2010, dos décadas después del fin de la Guerra Fría, diez espías rusos fueron arrestados en Estados Unidos tras ocultar su verdadera identidad a sus amigos, sus vecinos e incluso a sus hijos.Formaban parte de un programa de espionaje iniciado casi un siglo antes, cuando el gobierno revolucionario bolchevique comenzó a env...