About this episode

Antonia Senior discusses her book 'Stalin’s Apostles' and the complex realities of the Cambridge Five's espionage activities during the Cold War.

Antonia Senior’s new book, "Stalin’s Apostles", challenges what you may have believed about the Cambridge Five, a group of British citizens who spied for the Soviet Union. Antonia argues that their actions during the Cold War have long been romanticised in popular culture., however, the reality is far more complex and tragic. Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross, were not merely glamorous rogues; their espionage activities had dire consequences for countless individuals in Eastern and Central Europe. Antonia challenges the traditional narrative that often portrays them as victims of circumstance, highlighting instead the profound impact their betrayals had on nations and individuals who suffered under Stalinist regimes. Drawing on recently released MI5 documents and various international archives, the episode sheds light on the meticulous research that uncovers the broader implications of the Cambridge Five's actions. Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/4uTaRxi Linked Episodes. To Catch a Spy – How the Spycatcher Affair Brought MI5 in from the Cold https://coldwarconversations.com/episode361/ CIA and MI6 Covert Action…

People in this episode

Host: Ian Sanders

Guest: Antonia Senior

Topics covered

• Cambridge Five
• espionage
• Cold War
• Soviet spies
• historical narrative
• MI5 documents

Keywords

• Cambridge Five
• espionage
• Cold War
• MI5
• Soviet Union
• Antonia Senior
• Stalin’s Apostles
• historical narrative

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MI5, Soviet Union

Books & works: Stalin’s Apostles, Edith & Kim

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