The Happy Traitor

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A deeply human read, wonderfully written, on the foibles of a fascinating, flawed, treacherous, and somewhat likable character. Those betrayed were not innocent; they were no better nor worse than the narrator. George Blake, the last Cold War spy, served as a Senior Officer in British Intelligence while acting as a double agent for the Soviet Union, leading to devastating consequences for Britain. Despite his actions, he remained largely unknown and unrepentant. In 1961, Blake received a forty-two-year prison sentence for betraying Western operations to the KGB, the longest espionage sentence in British history. On the surface, Blake appeared charming and intelligent, a seemingly committed patriot. However, he was also a ruthlessly efficient mole and a key player in the notorious 'Berlin Tunnel' operation. This illuminating biography traces Blake's journey from his beginnings as a teenage courier for the Dutch underground during World War II to his sensational escape from Wormwood Scrubs, which inspired a Hitchcock screenplay. Through personal interviews, extensive research, and unique access to Stasi records, journalist Simon Kuper uncovers Blake's true identity, his capabilities, and the motivations behind his actions.