A Divided Life: A biography of Donald Maclean
Language: English
Published by Independently published June 2021, 2021
- Softcover
- Used
Seller: Caspian Books, Tracy, CA, U.S.A.Caspian Books
AbeBooks seller since April 14, 2023
Condition: Used - Good
£ 4.64
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketSeller Inventory # 232998
- Title
- A Divided Life: A biography of Donald Maclean
- Author
- Robert Cecil
- Publisher
- Independently published June 2021
- Publication year
- 2021
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Trade Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 13
- 9798525027572
- Seller catalogs
- Biography General
In A Divided Life, Robert Cecil presents the life and times of his former boss, Donald Maclean, one of the most iconic spies of the twentieth century. Maclean entered the Diplomatic Service from Cambridge in 1935, and from the outset established a brilliant career, with postings to Paris, Washington, Cairo, and as the head of the American Department of the Foreign Office. After fifteen years, however, he vanished, to reappear subsequently in Russia – he had from the start been working for the Soviet secret services, passing back to them the classified information to which he had access.
Why should such a man set Soviet interests above those of his own country? Robert Cecil draws on his own close acquaintance with the man, first at Cambridge and then as his colleague in the Diplomatic Service, to shed fascinating new light on Maclean and his circle of ideological spies, Burgess, Philby and Blunt – the so-called ‘Cambridge Comintern’. Breaking new ground, Cecil probes the circumstances of his initial recruitment and ultimate flight, his breakdown in Cairo, the nature of his marriage and, most importantly, the extent of his access to American atomic secrets.
Robert Cecil’s own familiarity with Maclean and his circle, together with the insights gained from his wide knowledge of contemporary history, enabled him to place the spies’ activities in their historical context, and makes this biography a major breakthrough in the understanding of the strange career of Donald Maclean.
Praise for A Divided Life:
‘… delivered in a crisp, literate, no-nonsense style, this compact biography offers an agreeably narrow focus on a spy-tangle that often seems dauntingly dense’ - Kirkus Reviews
'Intimate and revealing, told with candour and wit' - Manchester Evening News
‘Colleagues of Maclean were prepared to speak openly to Cecil, whom they liked and trusted, when they would have refused other biographers. The result was a book that brings Maclean and the period vividly alive’ – Andrew Lownie, The Independent
Robert Cecil (1919–1994) read History and Modern Languages at Cambridge, where he was a contemporary of his friend Donald Mclean, then served for thirty years in the Diplomatic Service. During World War II he was seconded for two years to ‘C’, the chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, and later served as Maclean’s assistant in the American department, taking over the post of head of department after Maclean’s flight. In 1968 he took up a readership at the University of Reading, and from 1976 until his retirement in 1978 he was chairman of the Graduate School of Contemporary European Studies.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 5.26 | £ 10.52 |
Payment methods
Store description
A wide variety of new and used books in downtown Tracy, CA. We carry a multitude of genres in both fiction and non fiction
Specialty
UsedSeller's business information
Caspian Books
CA, U.S.A.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Caspian Books, Tracy, California, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.