The Sword & the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive & the Secret History of the KGB

Rating:
Summary: The Sword and The Shield & the Secret History of the KGB
Review: This is an absolutely incredible read. The only drawback is the fine print, but asside from that, it catches your interest immediately. The fact that Vasili Mitrokhin was visionary enough to read and take notes on almost all the KGB files he could get his hands on is a testament to him. It also speaks volumns for the risk he was putting himself and his family into. It's amazing that he, his family, and the volumns of notes he made was able to make it out of the Soviet Union into Hungary, but he was a patient man willing to sacrifice it all knowing the penalty. What becomes immediately clear in this wonderful history lesson in espionage, is that we Americans are still behind in the game of cloak and dagger. It is completely mind boggling how much the Soviets knew about the US, our politics and our science and technology years before we became involved in WWII. For anyone who is interested in history, European history, espionage, and international leaders, this book is for you. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: The Sword and The Shield & the Secret History of the KGB
Review: This is an absolutely incredible read. The only drawback is the fine print, but asside from that, it catches your interest immediately. The fact that Vasili Mitrokhin was visionary enough to read and take notes on almost all the KGB files he could get his hands on is a testament to him. It also speaks volumns for the risk he was putting himself and his family into. It's amazing that he, his family, and the volumns of notes he made was able to make it out of the Soviet Union into Hungary, but he was a patient man willing to sacrifice it all knowing the penalty. What becomes immediately clear in this wonderful history lesson in espionage, is that we Americans are still behind in the game of cloak and dagger. It is completely mind boggling how much the Soviets knew about the US, our politics and our science and technology years before we became involved in WWII. For anyone who is interested in history, European history, espionage, and international leaders, this book is for you. Enjoy.