The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and the Plot to Infiltrate the West

Shaun Walker's book "The Illegals" explores Russia's modern-day election meddling and its roots in the subterfuge and trickery of the bad old days. It is a fascinating read that provides critical insight into Russia's influence operations today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 17 April 2025
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Shaun Walker's "The Illegals" is a captivating historical investigation that reads like a Le Carré novel, delving into Russia's modern-day election meddling and its roots in subterfuge and trickery from the past. Tom Burgis, Oliver Bullough, Catherine Belton, Simon Sebag Montefiore, and Peter Pomerantsev have praised the book for its gripping narrative and its critical importance in understanding Russia's influence operations today. The book explores the story of ten Russian spies who were arrested in America in 2010, having hidden their true identities for decades while working as deep-cover agents abroad. These missions, which began in the early 20th century, involved Soviet citizens posing as foreign aristocrats, merchants, and students, and could last for decades. Walker's book draws on hundreds of hours of interviews and newly discovered archival material to bring this history to life, offering a page-turning tour de force that delves into the heart of the Soviet experiment and its aftermath. As Moscow continues to engage in covert activities around the world, "The Illegals" sheds new light on the Soviet legacy and its impact on Russia and the West.

Weight: 640g
Dimension: 234 x 155 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788167772
Edition number: Main