The Private Life of Kim Philby: The Moscow Years [Hardcover]

Rufina Philby (Author), Mikhail Lyubimov (Author), Hayden Peake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2000

The Soviet master spy's widow reveals what really happened after he defected to Russia.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Notorious Cambridge spy Kim Philby, the former head of Britain's Soviet counterintelligence who defected to the USSR in 1963, spent his last 25 years there. In her ambivalent, equivocal memoir, his fifth wife, who married him in 1971, portrays him as "fundamentally honourable and honest," a great father and loving son-in-law, "full of joie de vivre," who "literally glowed with happiness" but, on the other hand, as self-destructive, solitary, alcoholic, as a chronic insomniac and a troubled soul plagued by doubts. Except for disclosing that her husband did "an occasional job for the KGB" during his Moscow years, her chronicle of marital domesticity sheds little light on Philby's political activities behind the Iron Curtain. Somewhat more revealing is the apologetic reminiscence by retired KGB Colonel Lyubimov, a friend of Philby's, presenting the Cambridge spymaster as a burned-out operative who failed to grasp that he was no longer a valued asset for Moscow. Included also are two hitherto unpublished autobiographical chapters by Philby himself. His chillingly matter-of-fact account of his recruitment by Soviet intelligence--and how he in turn helped recruit his Cambridge colleagues Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess--offers glimpses of a calculating, ruthless individual, in sharp contrast to the kind, gentle person evoked by his wife. Ex-CIA officer Peake's useful, scholarly bibliographical essay coolly reassesses the Philby saga by sifting the myths and distortions in a slew of books and articles. Also included are Philby's 1977 lecture to his KGB colleagues and an article he wrote on whether an agent should confess when caught (both never before published). 16 pages of photos. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

When Kim Philby crossed the Soviet border in January 1963, the 20th century's greatest spy disappeared from view, never to be seen again in the West, where he had done more damage than any spy before him. Although a spate of books has appeared about the life of this amazing man in the West, only now do we have some insights into Philby's existence in the Soviet Union until his death in 1988. The book is actually several shorter works combined. The bulk of the volume consists of an account by Philby's Russian wife, Rufina, of their 18-year marriage, revealing the new life this complicated Englishman led. Also included are several chapters of an uncompleted second volume of Philby's memoirs (his 1968 My Silent War caused a sensation in the West). Finally, there is the text of a 1977 lecture Philby gave to the KGB, as well as an excellent bibliographical essay by Peake surveying the extensive literature on Philby and his career. For students of Philby and 20th-century espionage, this is a remarkable contribution that helps fill a significant gap in our knowledge of this most famous spy and his life. For most collections.
-Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 449 pages
• Publisher: Fromm Intl; 1ST edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088064219X
• ISBN-13: 978-0880642194
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,896,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Last Word on the Life of a Spy., February 15, 2005

By 

F. S. L'hoir (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Private Life of Kim Philby: The Moscow Years (Hardcover)

This book represents an important contribution to the scholarship on Harold Adrian Russell Philby for various reasons, one of the most important being that it consists of several books in one.

First, there is his widow Rufina's account, which gives us a loving (but never maudlin) glimpse into their Moscow life and travels around the Soviet Union during the last twenty years of his life. Rufina does not hide the fact that they were under constant surveillance by the KGB; nor is she reticent about the difficulties of daily life in the Soviet Union.

Next, there are two unpublished chapters from Philby's autobiography, which not only recount his childhood but also provide insight into his recruitment, including his relationship with his first Soviet mentors "Otto" and "Theo" and his early association in espionage not only with Burgess but also with Maclean (It is often claimed that Philby was not really acquainted with Maclean at Cambridge). Philby also relates how Burgess "badgered" his way into Soviet espionage, because he did not like to be left out of anything that his friends were doing [p. 230]. These unpublished chapters are especially important because the editor has included in parentheses Kim Philby's original words, which he then emended, in the typescript. The reader can therefore follow his processes of thought and revisions as he wrote his manuscript.

There is also a series of fascinating photos: of Philby at his portable typewriter; of his comfortable book-lined Moscow apartment, complete with Burgess' wing-back armchair and Tommy Harris' antique Spanish table. One also sees the Piranese engraving of the Antonine column in Rome, sent to him anonymously by Anthony Blunt in the 1970s (the subject providing a clue to the name of the sender). In one photo, which shows Philby in his last years, drinking tea next to a samovar, he has lost that hunted and haunted look that marks his photo-portraits during the Beirut years. A final photo, which shows Kim Philby in his coffin, prompts one to wonder whether he had any idea that the system for which he had devoted thirty years of his life would outlive him by only three years.

Finally, there is ex-CIA officer Hayden Peake's insightful commentary on the literature written about Kim Philby and Peake's annotated bibliography, which has 157 entries. His chronology of the spy's life from his birth in 1912 to his death in 1988 is outstanding.

The reader who is looking for the sensational revelations that the words "Private Life" of the title might suggest will be severely disappointed. For the serious reader, who is interested in the history of the twentieth century, this book is treasure trove.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A noteworthy book, April 15, 2011

By 

David Toronto - See all my reviews

This review is from: Private Life of Kim Philby: The Moscow Years (Hardcover)

Rufina Philby has left us an invaluable account of her 18-year marriage to master spy Kim Philby. Her account is necessarily a bit like looking at the family photo album or watching a home movie. It concerns their relationship, his health problems, especially his struggle with smoking and alcohol, their travels, family and friends. A generation younger than her spy-husband -- Kim Philby was the same age as her mother -- she was obviously deeply in love with him. It's hardly surprising then that she paints the kindest possible picture of this famous spy. Those hoping to see Kim Philby's dirty laundry aired in public by Rufina Philby will be disappointed.

Rufina Philby's biography of her husband takes up less than half of this sizable book. The rest is a fascinating collection of photographs, unpublished memoirs by Kim Philby, bibliography and life chronology. This book is a must for anyone wanting to get to know Kim Philby from all points of view. You will also want to read "Kim Philby: The Spy I Loved" by Eleanor Philby, his first wife with whom he had five children (who, by the way, regularly visited him and Rufina in Moscow).

It will always be a disappointing fact that we will have to take with a grain of salt anything written by or about the master spies on either side in the Cold War, especially by their family members. For example, I was fascinated to read of Rufina's deep dislike for Oleg Kalugin, the former head of KGB foreign counterintelligence who claimed that he was responsible for getting the KGB to rescue Philby from a obscurity, isolation and self-abuse through drinking. In his autobiography, "The First Directorate", Kalugin claims to have arranged for expensive renovations to Philby's apartment and even new furniture. On the furniture incident at least Rufina is adamant that Kalugin had nothing to do with it and that his account of this was completely fabricated. Thereafter, Rufina seems to avoid mentioning him altogether.

Rufina Philby's story of her life with this famous man is really a love story. After reading it, I could not but feel that, without her, Kim Philby would have died much sooner. She took care of every aspect of his well-being and it sounds like he died a happy man. We should never forget, however, that despite what convictions he may have had and what anyone may remember about him, that Kim Philby betrayed many of the West's secrets to the Soviet Union, intensified the Cold War with a totalitarian regime, and caused deaths of an untold number of our agents abroad.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars complete trash and CIA propaganda..., October 13, 2011

By 

H.P. Albarelli Jr. (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Private Life of Kim Philby: The Moscow Years (Hardcover)

If a reader is looking for real history give this book a complete pass-- in short, I write this, because Hayden B. Peake is a longtime employee for the CIA

whose chief task is pushing out agency propaganda, as well as running a little detective agency to supplement his CIA pension. Peake is not a historian

and does not have a bone in his body that is able to produce anything that comes close to accurate and objective writing. I will say, however, for the un-

informed he is a fine propaganda master.