The Billion Dollar Spy
The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal is a non-fiction history book by David E. Hoffman.
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Author | David E. Hoffman |
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Language | English |
Genre | History, espionage |
Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | July 7, 2015 |
Publication place | United States |
Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
Pages | 312 |
ISBN | 978-0-385-53760-5 |
Synopsis
editThe book covers the life of Russian engineer Adolf Tolkachev, nicknamed the "Billion Dollar Spy", who was executed by the Soviet Union after being caught passing information on classified radar technology to CIA agents.
Reviews
editThe book received mostly positive reviews.[1][2] Lawrence D. Freedman, writing for Foreign Affairs, described it as a "must-read" and praised it for "[describing] in such detail what it meant to run American agents in Cold War–era Moscow".[3] Bob Drogan of the LA Times said that "To his credit, Hoffman describes the drab reality of most espionage work: long waits, endless paperwork, bumbling bureaucracy and often shoddy equipment."[4] Kirkus Reviews described it as "an intricate, mesmerizing portrayal of the KGB-CIA spy culture".[5]
Adaptation
editA thriller movie based on the book was announced in 2021 starring Mads Mikkelsen and Armie Hammer.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Review: In 'The Billion Dollar Spy,' David E. Hoffman Recalls a Cold War Spy". New York Times.
- ^ "Nonfiction review:Review: The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal by David E Hoffman". The Times.
- ^ "The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal". Foreign Affairs. 14 December 2015.
- ^ "Real-life 'Billion Dollar Spy' reads like a Cold War fiction thriller". LA Times.
- ^ "THE BILLION DOLLAR SPY:A TRUE STORY OF COLD WAR ESPIONAGE AND BETRAYAL". Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ "Mads Mikkelsen and Armie Hammer to Star in Cold War Thriller 'The Billion Dollar Spy'". 29 October 2020.