Welcome to Episode 179 of the Spybrary Spy Book podcast. Today, we bring you a spy author interview. Spybrary hosts Shane Whaley and Peter Newman find out more about Charlotte Philby's latest novel, Edith and Kim. Charlotte also shares memories of her grandfather, Kim Philby, and reveals some interesting responses in the world-famous Spybrary Quickfire Round!
Top Tip – if like Shane, you are based in the US, we recommend ordering your copy of Edith and Kim on Book Depository (free shipping to the US)
More about Edith and Kim by Charlotte Philby
To betray, you must first belong…
In June 1934, Kim Philby met his Soviet handler, the spy Arnold Deutsch. The woman who introduced them was called Edith Tudor-Hart. She changed the course of 20th century history. Then she was written out of it.
Drawing on the Secret Intelligence Files on Edith Tudor-Hart, along with the private archive letters of Kim Philby, this finely worked, evocative and beautifully tense novel – by the granddaughter of Kim Philby – tells the story of the woman behind the Third Man.
MEDIA REVIEWS
‘Completely fascinating. A sophisticated and brilliantly constructed fictional retelling of a crucial relationship in 20th century espionage history. A tremendous achievement' – William Boyd
‘A fascinating contribution to the literature of the Cambridge spies by a clever, nimble writer with some genuine skin in the game' – Charles Cumming
‘In Edith and Kim, Charlotte Philby brings to life a dangerous game of shadows that kept me reading late into the night. A dark, atmospheric and addictive novel' – Chris Power
‘Mother, lover, revolutionary, spy – Edith Tudor-Hart will have you in her thrall from the first page. Philby's stunning fourth novel thrusts this former bit-player in the Cambridge Spy scandal to the centre stage where she belongs. Edith and Kim combines the authenticity of your favourite true crime podcast, the intrigue of a spy novel and the page-turning grip of a psychological thriller – all wrapped up in beautiful, evocative prose that transports the reader to shady corners of 1930s London and Vienna. Her best book yet' – Erin Kelly
‘A new star has arrived in the thriller firmament' – The Times
‘Her thrillers have been a game-changer for the spy genre'- Daily Express
‘Philby is a skilled and evocative writer' – Financial Times
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