{"product_id":"the-illegals-russias-most-audacious-spies-and-their-century-long-mission-to-infiltrate-the-west-hardcover","title":"The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eShaun Walker\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe definitive history of Russia's most secret spy program, from the earliest days of the Soviet Union to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, and a revelatory examination of how that hidden history shaped both Russia and the West.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMore than a century ago, the new Bolshevik government began sending Soviet citizens abroad as deep-cover spies, training them to pose as foreign aristocrats, merchants, and students. Over time, this grew into the most ambitious espionage program in history. Many intelligence agencies use undercover operatives, but the KGB was the only one to go to such lengths, spending years training its spies in language and etiquette, and sending them abroad on missions that could last for decades. These spies were known as \"illegals.\" During the Second World War, illegals were dispatched behind enemy lines to assassinate high-ranking Nazis. Later, in the Cold War, they were sent to assimilate and lie low as sleepers in the West. The greatest among them performed remarkable feats, while many others failed in their missions or cracked under the strain of living a double life. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDrawing on hundreds of hours of interviews, as well as archival research in more than a dozen countries, Shaun Walker brings this history to life in a page-turning tour de force that takes us into the heart of the KGB's most secretive program. A riveting spy drama peopled with richly drawn characters, \u003ci\u003eThe Illegals\u003c\/i\u003e also uncovers a hidden thread in the story of Russia itself. As Putin extols Soviet achievements and the KGB's espionage prowess, and Moscow continues to infiltrate illegals across the globe, this timely narrative shines new light on the long arc of the Soviet experiment, its messy aftermath, and its influence on our world at large.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSHAUN WALKER is an international correspondent for \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian.\u003c\/i\u003e He reported from Moscow for more than a decade and is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Long Hangover: Putin's New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past\u003c\/i\u003e. He currently divides his time between Warsaw, Kyiv, and London.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 448\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.45 x 9.44 x 6.49 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 15, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51978220798253,"sku":"9780593319680","price":30.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/QptIZKm6qs9780593319680.webp?v=1775801096","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/the-illegals-russias-most-audacious-spies-and-their-century-long-mission-to-infiltrate-the-west-hardcover","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}