Spy Named Orphan (Vintage Publishing)

Donald Maclean was a star diplomat, an establishment insider and a keeper of some of the West's greatest secrets. He was also a Russian spy... Codenamed `Orphan' aby his Russian recruiter, Maclean was Britain's most gifted traitor.

But as he leaked huge amounts of top-secret intelligence, an international code-breaking operation was rapidly closing in on him. Moments before he was unmasked, Maclean escaped to Moscow. Drawing on a wealth of previously classified material, A Spy Named Orphan now tells this story for the first time in full, revealing the character and devastating impact of perhaps the most dangerous Soviet agent of the twentieth century.

`Superb' William Boyd `Fascinating... An exceptional story of espionage and betrayal, thrillingly told' Philippe Sands `A cracking story... Impressively researched' Sunday Times `Philipps makes the story and the slow uncovering of [Maclean's] treachery a gripping narrative' Alan Bennett "Brilliantly fluent...fascinating...

writes so cleanly, and at such a clip, handling the big scenes with aplomb...This biography first grips and then lingers long in the mind. It is a page-turner of the most empathetic kind." -- Rachel Cooke * Guardian * "Superb...full of contemporary relevance...

Philipps relates the complex narrative of Maclean's treason...with tremendous aplomb, limpidity and acuity" -- WILLIAM BOYD * New Statesman * "With A Spy Named Orphan, the last piece of this bizarre jigsaw falls into place.

The outline story is familiar, but the amount of new detail here - on Maclean's personal, professional, and secret lives - exceeds all expectations. Roland Philipps has managed to make the new material come alive żeby relating it intimately to its historical context, of which he has a deep and sympathetic understanding." -- Sebastian Faulks, author of BIRDSONG "The definitive account of the life of a "gifted" traitor...

Impressive... By drawing on a wealth of previously classified material, Philipps weaves a gripping tale of misplaced loyalty, intrigue and betrayal that is unlikely to be bettered" -- Dominic Midgley * Daily Express * "Fascinating and page-turning.

An exceptional story of espionage and betrayal, thrillingly told. I devoured it.