Stalin’s Apostles
The unputdownable true story of the Cambridge spies and the making of the Soviet Empire
$61.57
- Hardcover
496 pages
- Release Date
14 July 2026
Summary
Using recently declassified files, Stalin’s Apostles explores as never before the treachery of five British men who spied for the Soviet Union: Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Kim Philby, John Cairncross and Keeper of the Queen’s Pictures Anthony Blunt, all radicalised while at Cambridge University in the 1930s. Their supply of British and US intelligence gave Stalin an inside track on US and British strategy at a critical period in history. For more than twenty years there was barely a…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781399727891 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1399727893 |
| Author: | Antonia Senior |
| Publisher: | Hodder & Stoughton |
| Imprint: | Hodder & Stoughton |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 496 |
| Release Date: | 14 July 2026 |
| Weight: | 840g |
| Dimensions: | 52mm x 154mm x 236mm |
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Critics Review
A history of the Cambridge spies that is as good as anything I have read … magnificent. – The Times
A racy, spirited, vernacular book based on shrewd research … original and invigorating. – TLS
A fine piece of work … The real strength of the book, which draws on archives not visited by Cambridge Five writers, is to show how the betrayals affected the real world. – The Cipher Brief
Carefully researched and well-written, rich in anecdotes and insights … valuable, thought-provoking. – Literary Review
This brilliantly told story of treachery at the heart of the British establishment during World War Two and its aftermath reveals for the first time the tragic cost for millions of people and its impact on reshaping the world. Harrowing yet compulsively relevant today, it’s a page-turner. – Adam Zamoyski
Shocking. Gripping. Unputdownable. You thought you knew the Cambridge Five? Think again!
Their level of treachery beggars belief, yet the British establishment’s incompetence and cover-up is equally unbelievable.
Meticulously researched, this is a fascinating analysis. – Nigel West
Beautifully written and utterly compelling, Stalin’s Apostles is a brilliant reassessment of the Cambridge Five whose naive faith in communism is tellingly juxtaposed with the brutal reality of Stalin’s rule. Their betrayals had serious consequences for the West, as Senior makes clear, yet they lived out their days in Soviet exile with few regrets. A cautionary tale by a rising star of non-fiction. – Saul David
Understanding why the Cambridge spies really betrayed their country has eluded historians for decades. Senior’s new book is impressive in its scope of ground-breaking research and depth of historical context to unpack the motivations of these enigmatic men. A powerful narrative. – Helen Fry
A brilliant book. Deep research and dazzling writing make Stalin’s Apostles an appallingly entertaining read. A definitive work on one of the 20th century’s most treacherous conspiracies. – Tim Weiner
Antonia Senior has done that rare thing, written an account of the Cambridge Five with an historian’s fidelity to fact and a novelist’s eye for character. Her meticulous research and elegant writing bring to life the story of class-conscious Englishmen whose youthful embrace of Communism led to the twentieth century’s most audacious spy network. It’s a spellbinding tale of espionage, friendship, and betrayal. Brilliant. – Paul Vidich
Outstanding … A darkly fascinating account of an infamous spy ring. – Kirkus
Antonia Senior
Antonia Senior is a journalist, critic, and podcaster. She is a book reviewer for The Times, where she has also worked as deputy business editor and leader writer. Antonia currently hosts the Spymasters podcast and co-hosts the History Book Buffs. She studied the history of intelligence and the Russian Revolution at Cambridge University, which led to a lifelong fascination with the impact of Marxism, the relationship between the West and Russia, the Cold War, and espionage. The author of three novels, Stalin’s Apostles is her first work of non-fiction.
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