"Oleg Gordievsky was a spy of principle, a child of the KGB who would turn his back on the hypocrisy of Soviet Communism. As he rose through the KGB ranks, he was secretly working for MI6, the British intelligence service, providing critical information that foiled Soviet plots, exposed their spies, and ultimately avoided catastrophic nuclear escalation between the great powers. MI6 fiercly guarded Gordievsky's identity, even from President Ronald Reagan and the CIA. But the American spy agency, was bent on discovering the British source, unaware that their head of counterintelligence--Aldrich Ames--was secretly spying for the Soviets. A riveting story of Cold War intrigue, The Spy and the Traitor finds 'master storyteller' (San Francisco Chronicle) Ben Macintyre at his thrilling best"--Back cover.

Introduction: May 18, 1985 -- The KGB -- Uncle Gormsson -- SUNBEAM -- Green ink and microfilm -- A plastic bag and a Mars bar -- Agent BOOT -- The safe house -- Operation RYAN -- Koba -- Mr. Collins and Mrs. Thatcher -- Russian roulette -- Cat and mouse -- The dry cleaner -- The runner -- Finlandia -- Epilogue: Passport for PIMLICO -- Codenames and aliases.