Fascinating biography of Guy Burgess, the third man (depending on how you're counting) of the Cambridge Spy Ring. Burgess is a remarkable person — capricious, waspish, totally self-centred, but also charming and brilliant. It's difficult not to be impressed at how his intellect manages to carry him to the BBC, MI5, MI6 and the Foreign Office despite his obvious and unhidden (quite the opposite) personality flaws. While it is arguable he could have reached much higher positions had he been less drunk and obnoxious at work, the fact that he managed to work effectively, and get away with his behaviour, is somewhat astounding.

Also astounding are the descriptions of the "establishment's" reaction to his defection — I was astonished that he was allowed to maintain accounts with banks, tailors, and bookstores in the UK. And that he could arrange to have his furniture shipped to him. And that people visiting Moscow would commonly visit. I assumed that his ostracization from society would have been more complete. This almost feels like he had just swapped clubs.

The book itself can be a little dry — the list-like details, particularly in the first third, could wash over me. But once things start moving it is really compelling. It seems that the history, character and influence of Burgess is much debated, with little agreement — this book is a good place to start to understand it. ( )

Like many people, I grew up thinking that the West had the best secret agents — James Bond being the most famous (fictional) example. It was only later on that I discovered the incredible successes of Soviet spies, most famously Kim Philby. It turns out that in many ways, Guy Burgess, a friend of Philby’s and a fellow member of the “Cambridge 5” spy ring, may have been even more important.

For years, Burgess operated at the very heart of the British government, including a stint in its Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). A loyal Communist, he handed over thousands of top secret documents to his Soviet handlers. In 1951, when the cover of one his colleagues was about to be blown, he decided — seemingly on a whim — to end a very successful career as a spy and rushed off to Moscow. And there he lived for another decade until he died, desperately missing the life he left behind in England, but being provided with regular hampers from London’s Fortnum and Mason as well as clothing from exclusive shops on Jermyn Street. British visitors to Moscow often agreed to meet him, including Graham Greene on one occasion.

Andrew Lownie spent some thirty years researching this book, and it shows. It is a brilliant, detailed account of a strangely interesting — and much-loved — man. Lownie raises the question of how it was possible for Burgess (and for that matter, Philby and the others) to loyally support Stalin after the revelations about the Moscow trials and the 1939 Hitler-Stalin pact. Somehow, they all managed to square that circle.

Highly recommended. ( )

A very thorough study of the life of Guy Burgess and a history of the whole Cambridge spies scandal. It's easy to see how these upper class intellectuals were attracted to communism in the 1930s when it represented the only opposition to the March of fascism. For the likes of Burgess, there was also the added attraction of a feeling of importance and influence. What is surprising is how little damage their passing of 'secret' documents to the Soviets actually did, mainly because their Russian handlers felt that the likes of Guy Burgess were untrustworthy due to their debauched and immoral life styles.
What is almost impossible to understand, despite Adrew Lownie's wealth of first hand evidence from his many friends and acquaintances, is how such a seemingly unpleasant and, at times, vicious character could have inspired such loyalty and had so many lovers. Apart from his alcoholism, every description of him emphasises his dirtiness (his grubby fingernails are constantly mentioned).
The one thing I find missing in the story is any evidence of how Burgess and his fellow communists/socialists felt about the huge changes in post-war British society instigated by the new Labour government. Seemingly, it made no difference to them although the country had become a very different place.
For those who would argue that such traitors shouldn't have been allowed to get away with it and, instead, through many books, plays and films, have become romanticised, then reading the latter part of this book describing Burgess's miserable years in Russia, show that, while they escaped trial and imprisonment, they effectively punished themselves. ( )