Which is why I chain-read during breaks. It may seem like work, going through this many books...? But, to me, it's relaxing. And it makes me feel somewhat connected to the modern book world (rather than the pre-Civil-War American book world or the 1920's British book world).
If you're looking for a true spy story, read this:
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| A Secret Life by Benjamin Weiser |
The full title is, A Secret Life: The Polish Officer, His Covert Mission, and the Price He Paid to Save His Country. It's the true story of a Polish officer named alskdjfoeiurowueir (all the Polish words look like that to me, sorry) who contacted the American Embassy in Poland during the Cold War and asked them to help his country. For the next 10 years he risked his life to turn over massive amounts of classified information pertaining to the Warsaw Pact, Russia's military capability and plans at the time, and the Solidarity mission in Poland.
I know this looks like a G book (not a B book) but it's really good! It's driving me bonkers because I have no recollection of how I came across it, why I even have it. This is not the type of book I would just pick up, which means that it was recommended to me by someone I really trust...and I can't remember a thing. Was it from a former job? Did The Russkie recommend it? Did I pick it up on our travels somewhere? No idea.
But! There are some classic trade craft lessons in the book. It is fascinating to see how the (semi-new) CIA operated in the late 1970's and 1980's. For example, during one of their drops with Colonel Psduadklajglkdjflaksjd the agents turned the corner and saw him, in full military uniform, standing next to the road and waving at them! Haaaaaaa! The book talks about how American agents learned to operate their missions under complete surveillance from the enemy, and goes into some detail about how advanced our miniature electronics were, even that long ago. I'm sure we secretly run the world now, if we were that advanced back then. They can probably read our minds.
It's very easy - and perhaps justifiable - to get cynical about secret ops these days. The most impressive thing about this book is how very personal and friendly and kind the CIA's relationship was with the Colonel. Yes, he was giving them vital info. But he approached them. He pushed a relationship with them - not for money or fame or personal safety, but in an effort to save his homeland. Over the course of many years, the CIA pleaded with him to take 6 months off, to walk away for a while, for his psychological health and for his personal well-being.
His handler in the U.S., Daniel, wrote him personal letters. They wrote back and forth about their families and memories and ideological beliefs. They were pen pals, for lack of a better word! Just as much attention was given to the personal side of things as the professional side. I wonder if the covert world is still like that today? When we hear on the news about hundreds of Afghans who risked their lives to help the American military - with the promise that we would take them in - and they are still, a decade later, in hiding, waiting on bureaucratic red tape in Washington...? On the other hand, I'm listening to the latest Serial podcasts about how, when Bo Bergdahl went "missing," soldiers from all branches of the military spent months trying to track him down. Missions were cancelled. We pulled out all the stops. For one guy.
One question that was continually raised throughout the book was, What is Poland? In the face of a nuclear war, and Soviet invasion, and civil unrest, what is a country, really? Likewise, we could ask What is America? This book is a shining light of our very best qualities, the stuff that makes people flock to our borders.
It's a slow read, but a good one, and a true one! I recommend it.
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