The billion dollar spy is a brilliant feat of reporting that unfolds like an espionage thriller. How the cia ran a billion dollar spy in moscow the. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the cold war while driving out of the american embassy in moscow on the evening of. Listen to the billion dollar spy a true story of cold war espionage and betrayal by david e. The billion dollar spy the billion dollar spy audiobook, by david e. The billion dollar spy new york public library overdrive. It tells a story that i never knew about and tells it very well indeed.
From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military. He married a young woman at his institute, his topsecret military institute, and her parents had been purged by. Jul 07, 2015 from the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the cold war while driving out of the american embassy in moscow on the evening of february 16, 1978, the chief of the cia. The title the billion dollar spy refers to the research and manufacturing costs saved by the united states as a result of mr. Read the billion dollar spy a true story of cold war espionage and betrayal by david e. A thoroughly researched excavation of an astoundingly important and sadly sacrificed spy for the cia during the low point of the 1970s.
The untold story of the cold war arms race and its dangerous legacy 2009, washington post contributing editor hoffman has strong credentials to tell the unheralded story of adolf. It hits the sweet spot between pageturning thriller and solidly researched history even the footnotes are informative and then becomes something more, a shrewd character. The billion dollar spy reveals the gripping story of adolf tolkachev, an engineer in a soviet military design bureau who used his highlevel access to leak sensitive information about soviet weapons systems. The title of david hoffmans excellent new book, the billion dollar spy, unintentionally i think. It is also an evocative portrait of everyday life in the crumbling soviet union and a meticulously researched guide to cia sources and methods. One evening, while the chief of the cias moscow station was filling his gas tank, a stranger approached and dropped a note into the car. Plus, youll get an additional audiobook per month after trial. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal david e.
Seven million dollar spy reveals, for the first time, the inside story of the dramatic us counterintelligence operation that resulted in the capture of the most dangerous mole working for russia inside us intelligence. David hoffman talked about his book, the billion dollar spy. It is a gripping story of courage, professionalism, and betrayal in the secret world. Tolkachev was one of the most productive cia spies during the cold war, persistent in his undertakings to ensure the. The billion dollar spy oc public libraries overdrive. Jul 05, 2015 david hoffman tells tolkachevs story in his new book, the billion dollar spy.
From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the cold war while driving out of the american embassy in moscow on the evening of february 16, 1978, the chief. The billion dollar spy new hampshire state library. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal, about adolf tolkachev, a russian engineer who worked for the soviet military and. It is easy to follow, and readers will find it hard to put down. The soviet asked if fulton was american and then said that he wanted to. The billion dollar spy reads like the very best spy fiction yet is meticulously drawn from real life. Hoffman i received this book through the goodreads first reads program. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the cold.
Now, the former senior kgb spy, to whom the us paid seven million dollars for moscows file on the mole, is identified by both his real and code names. The untold story of the cold war arms race and its dangerous legacy 2009, washington post contributing editor hoffman has strong. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal audiobook by david e. Hoffman chronicles the sixyear relationship between the central intelligence agency cia and engineer adolf tolkachev, who spied on the soviet union for the united states. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal audible audio published july 7th 2015 by random house audio unabridged, audible audio. A scrupulously researched work of history that is also a gripping thriller, the billion dollar spy by david e. The billion dollar spy is an espionage thriller worthy of john le carre but much more than that. Audio book sample courtesy of penguin random house. Waterstones nonfiction book of the month august 2018 and a sunday times bestseller an astonishingly detailed picture. Drawing on previously classified cia documents and interviews with firsthand participants, the billion dollar spy is a brilliant feat of reporting and a riveting true story from the final years of the cold war. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial.
Tolkachevs story is detailed in 944 pages of previously secret cia cables about the operation that were declassified without condition for the forthcoming book the billion dollar spy. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal by hoffman, david e. A washington post notable book of the year it was the height of the cold war, and a dangerous time to be stationed in the soviet union. Steve vogel the berlin tunnel and an epic tale of cold war. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy.
A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal by hoffman, david e isbn. On january 12, 1977 around 6 pm, an averagelooking soviet man leaned into the car that the cia station chief, robert fulton, was filling at a gas station. Such is the conclusion of david hoffmans account of perhaps the most productive spy in cia history. It is a very solid, well written and a well researched work. Hoffmans the billion dollar spy the billion dollar spy is one of the best spy stories to come out of the cold war and all the more riveting. The billion dollar spy is one of the best spy stories to come out of the cold war and all the more riveting. Book discussion on the billion dollar spy internet archive. The title of david hoffmans excellent new book, the billion dollar spy, unintentionally i think evokes a famous item from studies in intelligence many years ago, the million dollar photograph. Hoffman is an unforgettable journey into cold war espionage. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the cold war while driving o. He covered the white house during the presidencies of ronald reagan and george h. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal by david e. Tolkachev was one of the most productive cia spies during the cold war, persistent in.
A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal duration. Hoffman perhaps the only thing more engrossing than a cold war spy novel is the truth behind the tales. Working at the soviet radar design bureau phazotron as one of the chief designers, tolkachev. Bush, and was subsequently diplomatic correspondent and jerusalem correspondent. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. The good the billion dollar spy was my first cold war espionage book and it has directed me to an entirely new genre of books to explore. Listen to the billion dollar spy audiobook by david e. Jul 06, 2015 the title the billion dollar spy refers to the research and manufacturing costs saved by the united states as a result of mr. One evening, while the chief of the cias moscow station was filling his gas tank, a. Hoffman is a contributing editor at the washington post. Stirring, unpredictable, and at times unbearably tense, the billion dollar spy is a brilliant feat of reporting that unfolds like an espionage thriller.
The billion dollar spy new hampshire state library overdrive. David hoffman, author of the billion dollar spy initially, the cia was suspicious of soviet aviation expert adolf tolkachev. Jul 07, 2015 a thoroughly researched excavation of an astoundingly important and sadly sacrificed spy for the cia during the low point of the 1970s. Hoffman described this singularlyimportant operation, based on declassified cia cables and his new book, the billion dollar spy, and argued that despite the many achievements of. The billion dollar spy is an excellent and thoroughly engaging read. It hits the sweet spot between pageturning thriller and solidly researched history even the footnotes are informative and then becomes something more, a shrewd character study of spies and the spies who run. Random house audio, unabridged, digital download, 12 hrs. It hits the sweet spot between pageturning thriller and solidly researched history even the footnotes are informative and then becomes something more, a shrewd character study of spies and the. The winner of the pulitzer prize for his previous book, the dead hand. The billion dollar spy is the true story of an electronics engineer at a secret military aviation institute in moscow who for almost seven years provided the cia with a huge volume of sensitive and valuable intelligence on soviet research and development r%d activities concerning radars, avionics, aa missiles, and other technologies.
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