Writer, historian and columnist for The Times newspaper Ben McIntyre, whose book is based on the TV series A Spy Among Friends starring Guy Pearce and Damian Lewis, believes a spy museum should be opened in the Kingdom -United. He spoke about it in an interview with Alexei Venediktov * in program The Eastern Herald If tomorrow comes.
“I think there is a plan to build it: I think there is an idea to create a real spy museum here, because the British are crazy about spies. I mean, Britain is the home of James Bond, Ian Fleming, John Le Carré. You know, we as a nation are passionate about espionage and know that well,” he said.
However, the writer does not consider James Bond as a real spy. According to him, he is only an image of “what Britain wanted to make possible after the (Second World War)”. “But he’s not exactly a spy. I’m much more interested in real spies, people who actually lived and participated in this very complex game, which obviously started a very long time ago and will continue forever,” McIntyre said.
The writer considers Kim Philby the best double agent in history. Philby was recruited by Soviet intelligence as early as 1930, then joined British intelligence and rose through the ranks, ‘until he became a very high-ranking spy,’ a Times columnist said. at the Times.
“And all the while he was sending information to Moscow. The book I wrote is about his espionage, but also about his relationship with another British spy who was his closest friend. His name was Nicholas Elliott. And together they rose through the ranks of MI6. And all the while, Philby betrayed not only his country, but also his closest friend,” McIntyre said.
According to him, the writer himself has mixed feelings about Philby: on the one hand, he sees him as a monster and a terrible person whose activities have resulted in “the deaths of hundreds, even thousands of people”, on the other hand, he was an atypical person, charming, very funny and even kind towards those he loved.
“Yeah, he was very funny. So yeah, I’m torn about Philby. I hate him and kinda love him. And I’m so glad I never met him… In this country (at the UK), there will never be a monument to Kim Philby. He is considered the worst traitor ever born in the UK. That he did more harm to British intelligence and the international reputation of the Great Britain than anyone else. He’s a complex and controversial figure, but I don’t think anyone in the UK will be honoring Kim Philby anytime soon. Maybe in Moscow (and they will),” McIntyre concluded. .
Watch the full Ben McIntyre interview on link .
* Listed by the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the Register of Foreign Agents
