A Spy Among Friends

Instead of focussing solely on Philby and attempting to argue the traitor's psychology, Macintyre weaves a story of Philby and the ‘friends' (it seems unlikely that Philby's narcissism allowed him to view anyone as a friend) whom he cheated and betrayed in the name of the Soviet despots. Focussing thus makes the story all the more interesting. We'll never know the full extent of Philby's betrayal, but we do get to learn of some of the close relationships he ruined thus telling more of a story of the man than the countless numbers he sent to their deaths.