Ben Macintyre is a British author born in 1963 in Oxford, United Kingdom. Throughout Macintyre’s career, he has worked as a The Times newspaper columnist and author. Macintyre's columns vary from contemporary affairs to chronological debates. Besides being a columnist, Macintyre has authored a range of renowned books. Some of Macintyre's famous books include Agent Zigzag, The Man Who Would Be King, Agent Sonya, and his latest memoir titled A Spy Among Friends.
A Spy Among Friends is about Philby, one of the most renowned disreputable spies of the 20th century, who kept some vital aspects of his life a top secret from his colleagues in the British intelligence service. Philby worked closely with Elliot at the British intelligence service for several years before he decided to work secretly as a double spy for the communist Russians in the Soviet Union. A Spy Among Friends memoir is about dishonesty, treachery, conspiracy, and allegiance to philosophy over a country. Elliot trusted Philby as his most loyal friend throughout his life, believing he would not subscribe to communist ideologies. For instance, the memoir details how Philby and Elliot went to the same schools and shared hobbies, making it impossible to believe they would betray each other. Paradoxically, after twenty years of faithful service to the British intelligence service, Philby started working as a spy secretly for the Russians.
After its publication, A Spy Among Friends memoir received positive reviews and became the best seller book in the United States of America. In December 2022, A Spy Among Friends was adopted as a TV series streamed on ITVX for one consecutive year. In 2012, A Spy Among Friends was shortlisted for Agatha Award; in 2014, it won Spear's Book Award.
