Love and Deception

Love & Deception is the extraordinary story of how Eleanor, an able, cultured American living in the espionage hot spot of 1950s Beirut, fell in love with the kindest, most sensitive of men. Unknown to her, that man, a Lebanon-based journalist, Kim Philby, was under suspicion by the British and US intelligence services of having secretly signed up to help the Russians fight fascism in the 1930s, and of remaining in their pay at the height of the Cold War. Despite his mysterious past, Eleanor adored and married Philby, who later begged her to defy his difficulties. As the net closed in on Philby, he manoeuvred to save himself, but would their love survive?

'A brilliantly researched and revelatory book, written with compelling authority and great narrative drive. Completely fascinating' -- William Boyd
'The first book in many years to disclose new information on the traitor-spy Kim Philby. Hanning has dug deeper than anyone since Philip Knightley and E. H. Cookridge to expose the cover-ups, lies and propaganda surrounding Philby's defection from Beirut aboard the Soviet freighter Dolmatova in 1963. A gripping tale of romance, intrigue and disloyalty' -- Charles Glass, author of They Fought Alone: The True Story of the Starr Brothers, British Secret Agents in Nazi-Occupied France
'A fascinating and brilliant story of the complex relationship between the master spy Kim Philby and his third wife, the American Eleanor Brewer. The author weaves a compelling narrative from their first meeting to the final denouement some years later. James Hanning has unearthed much new information and has written a book of real power' -- Richard Frost, editor of the book by Tim Milne, Philby's oldest friend
'You may think the Philby saga has been mined to exhaustion but that is clearly not true. One of the most intriguing aspects is the final period in Beirut where he was still working as an MI6 'stringer'. Displaying his formidable skills as an assiduous researcher, James Hanning has continued digging and has discovered new gems that illuminate the tortured but living relationship between Kim and his wife, Eleanor, and the mystifying intrigues that surround Philby's last days in Beirut. Definitely a recommended read' -- Stephen Dorril, historian of MI6
'In a masterly narrative, James Hanning has plotted through the intrigue to explain the murky and controversial climax of Britain's biggest spy scandal' Tom Bower
Undaunted by the many books already written about the Soviet spy Kim Philby, James Hanning has come up with a hugely entertaining new volume. Love and Deception: Philby in Beirut is a racy confection of known facts and new insights, woven into a surprisingly sympathetic account of the alcohol-fuelled love affair that lit up Philby's last years in the West. The old question - did he cleverly escape the clutches of MI6 or was he pushed through the trapdoor to Moscow? - is not definitively answered, but Hanning finds some intriguing new clues as he follows this strange love story through to its forlorn and inevitable ending. George Carey, BBC producer of “The Spy who went into the cold”
If ever there was a cautionary tale about the true costs of male privilege in the higher echelons of the British establishment - this is it. Hanning's masterful research lays bare the extraordinary hypocrisy that enabled Kim Philby to lie and trick his way through life. Amanda Foreman
'James Hanning's book is excellent...The fascination of Love & Deception lies in the meticulously detailed account it gives of Philby's strange half-life in Beirut, where he was banished in 1956.' The Guardian
'James Hanning has a fine feel for the mutually advantageous relationship between newspapermen and spies. With the often sozzled Philby's at the centre, he wheels us through Beirut's bars and hotels, notably the Normandy and St Georges... Love and Deception [is] as good an introduction to the whole murky Philby business as any. Personal liaisons are sensitively explored, locations brought to life, and it's all neatly cross-referenced with local and world affairs' The Spectator
'The true story of Kim Philby as told by James Hanning surpasses the best spy fiction. Philby comes across as a character with all the complexity and charisma of a Shakespearean villain. Not just an entertaining read, but a most valuable reference book for anyone interested in the period.' -- Edward Wilson, author of The Envoy
'Fascinating and superbly researched' Times Literary Supplement
'Hanning's work is not just a revised look at this passage of Philby's life but an appreciation of how it unfolded through the eyes of Eleanor Kerns - the wife of US correspondent Sam Pope Brewer who became entranced with Philby' Camden New Journal
'Engrossing...Hanning is an accomplished journalist and his smooth prose makes this a book a joy to read - an atmospheric, compelling thriller...The eyewitness detail and in-depth research is outstanding' The Tablet

Former deputy editor of the Independent on Sunday James Hanning is co-biographer of David Cameron and secured the exclusive collaboration of News of the World investigator Glenn Mulcaire for an expose of the phone hacking scandal. Including new evidence from key figures, Love and Deception: Philby in Beirut is the result of 20 years of research into one of the Cold War's most mysterious episodes.

Love & Deception is the extraordinary story of how Eleanor, an able, cultured American living in the espionage hot spot of 1950s Beirut, fell in love with the kindest, most sensitive of men. Unknown to her, that man, a Lebanon-based journalist, Kim Philby, was under suspicion by the British and US intelligence services of having secretly signed up to help the Russians fight fascism in the 1930s, and of remaining in their pay at the height of the Cold War. Despite his mysterious past, Eleanor adored and married Philby, who later begged her to defy his difficulties. As the net closed in on Philby, he manoeuvred to save himself, but would their love survive?The outline of Philby's story is familiar to many, but Love & Deception breaks remarkable new ground - even for spy buffs. Through in-depth research, Hanning produces an eye-opening tale of friendship, politics, love, and loyalty.

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