Customer Reviews

Stalin's Spy: Richard Sorge and the Tokyo Espionage Ring

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I just finished reading this book, which I had been meaning to get my hands on for about 2 years now.

It is a superbly well-documented piece of historical research and it's clear that the author, Robert Whymant, spared no effort in combing, analyzing and recounting the historic record on this extraordinary spy and the network he painstakingly built up in Tokyo in the run up to and start of the Second World War.

A review of the book's endnotes (it is extensively footnoted) shows that Whymant relied on a variety of sources, both official and private, including Soviet, Japanese and German archives as well as on personal accounts of those who knew and worked with the protagonists.

Personally, I found that the narrative, although quite exciting, is not as gripping as the works of Anthony Beevor, nor does it flow with the casual ease of Norman Davies' works, but is nevertheless a very entertaining read and does not get bogged down in unnecessary detail.

I am fairly confident that, for now, this represents the definitive piece of popular historical research on Richard Sorge, and it will be difficult for someone to do a better job than Whymant has done, unless more sources emerge from the Soviet archives or some other new revelations come to light.

I was very saddened to discover, after finishing the book, that Richard Whymant actually perished in the 2004 Asian Tsunami, whilst holidaying in Sri Lanka. This constitutes a very grave loss indeed.

This book was in great condition and it arrived before my course started, which is a great plus for me!!!