In his four decades as a KGB officer, Victor Cherkashin was a central player in the shadowy world of Cold War espionage. From his rigorous training in Soviet intelligence in the early 1950s to his prime spot as the KGB's head of counterintelligence at the Soviet embassy in Washington, Cherkashin's career was rich in episode and drama. In a riveting memoir, Cherkashin provides a remarkable insider's view of the KGB's prolonged conflict with the CIA. Playing a major role in global espionage for most of the Cold War, Cherkashin was posted to stations in the United States, Australia, India, and Lebanon. He tracked down U.S. and British spies around the world. But it was in 1985 that Cherkashin scored two of the KGB's biggest-ever coups. In April of that year, he recruited disgruntled CIA officer Aldrich Ames and became his principal handler. Six months later, FBI special agent Robert Hanssen contacted Cherkashin directly, eventually becoming an even bigger asset than Ames. CISAC READING LIST

"A Member of the Perseus Books Group." Includes maps of: Dead Drop Site for Penkovsky in Central Moscow.

Inside the lion's den : Washington Station -- The training of a KGB handler -- Cold War frontline : Beirut -- Treason -- Intrigue at Moscow Center -- Washington Station : the redefector -- Washington Station : the most dangerous spy -- Washington Station : how to catch a spy -- Washington Station : the biggest catch : Hanssen -- The final years of the KGB -- Wild capitalism in new Russia -- Lessons of Cold War espionage.