The Enigma Spy | An Autobiography - The Story of the Man Who Changed the Course of World War Two

Cairncross, John [John Cairncross (25 July 1913 - 8 October 1995) was a British civil servant who became an intelligence officer and spy during the Second World War. As a Soviet double agent, he passed to the Soviet Union the raw Tunny decryptions that influenced the Battle of Kursk. He was alleged to be the fifth member of the Cambridge Five. He was also notable as a translator, literary scholar and writer of non-fiction].

Verlag: Published by Century Ltd., Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London First Edition . 1997., 1997

Beschreibung

First edition hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 9½'' x 6¼''. Cairncross did not view himself as one of the Cambridge Five, insisting that the information he sent to Moscow was not harmful to Britain and that he had remained loyal to his homeland. He believed that he had been doing a favour to an ally who was being refused information by a "right wing clique", according to one news item. In fact, his designation to the Cambridge ring is tenuous, since his truly valuable spy work had concluded by the end of WWII. A review of the 2019 book by Chris Smith, The Last Cambridge Spy: John Cairncross, Bletchley Park Codebreaker and Soviet Double Agent, proposes this view. The review adds that unlike the other four, described as "privileged" and as "haute bourgeoisie" by another book (A Spy Named Orphan: The Enigma of Donald Maclean), he was "lower middle class" with a heavy Scottish accent. "It was mere happenstance that he was at Cambridge with the others". This book first published in 1997, in 2001, writer Rupert Allason lost a court case in which he claimed to have ghost written 'The Enigma Spy' in return for copyright and 50% of the book proceeds. According to the BBC, "John Cairncross denied both that he was the supposed 'fifth man' and that such a person had ever existed. Critics at the time viewed this book as a last attempt to clear his name, though few appear to have been convinced". Full printer's code to the copyright page 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2. Contains (xix)-i, 203 pp with monochrome archive photographs throughout. Fine condition book in near Fine condition dust wrapper with light marks to the paper, not price clipped, £16.99. Scarce first edition. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Member of the P.B.F.A. ISBN 0712678840 ESPIONAGE (Clandestine). Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 111447

Bibliografische Details

Titel: The Enigma Spy | An Autobiography - The ...

Verlag: Published by Century Ltd., Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London First Edition . 1997.

Erscheinungsdatum: 1997

Einband: Hardcover

Zustand: Gut bis sehr gut

Zustand des Schutzumschlags: Schutzumschlag

Auflage: 1. Auflage