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The Writer and the Traitor
'A wholly fascinating account of an extraordinary friendship. Robert Verkaik's nuanced and insightful portraits of these two highly complicated individuals is brilliantly convincing.' - William Boyd
'Ever since first reading Graham Greene's extraordinary foreword to my grandfather's autobiography, My Silent War, I have been intrigued by the relationship between one of Britain's most loved writers, and the real Third Man. In his vivid and rigorously researched new book, The Writer and the Traitor, acclaimed journalist Robert Verkaik shines new light on one of the most fascinating friendships of the Cold War - proving that fact is stranger than fiction, and just as compelling.' - Charlotte Philby, author of Edith and Kim
'A superb spy book. This masterpiece of forensic research asks troubling new questions about two of Britain's most mysterious and famously complex figures. Verkaik explores wartime secret service and reveals its hidden stories of friendship, loyalty and betrayal.' - Richard J Aldrich, author of GCHQ
'The novelist's eye of Kim Philby's friend and MI6 colleague Graham Greene certainly provides a new perspective on the treachery of Philby and the Cambridge spies. It may not all be fact. But it is all certainly plausible. And that makes for a richly entertaining tale.' - Professor Sir David Omand, former UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator
The friendship between Graham Greene and Kim Philby is one of the most mysterious of the twentieth century. Greene, the internationally lauded novelist who wrestled with the themes of faith and betrayal in his work. Philby, the British intelligence-officer-turned-spy for the Soviets, and one of the most reviled men of his era. The two men met as young MI6 officers in war-torn London, working together to defeat the Nazis.
But after Greene suddenly resigned just days before D-Day, questions started to arise. He turned back to literature, using his experience in the intelligence services as a backdrop for his novel Our Man in Havana and the screenplay of The Third Man. Lurking within the pages lay suspicions of his friend, with characters and plots echoing Philby's life. Was Philby the real 'third man'? Did Greene's work contain coded messages and warnings of betrayal to M16?
In this revelatory book, bestselling author Robert Verkaik chronicles the relationship of these two giants of the 20th century, spanning the defeat of Nazism and the end of the Cold War, right up until Philby's death in 1988. This is more than just a riveting tale of espionage; it is the story of an unusual friendship that survived against all odds. Ultimately, The Writer and the Traitor explores the perplexing question that nobody yet has why did Graham Greene remain loyal to Britain's most hated traitor?
'Ever since first reading Graham Greene's extraordinary foreword to my grandfather's autobiography, My Silent War, I have been intrigued by the relationship between one of Britain's most loved writers, and the real Third Man. In his vivid and rigorously researched new book, The Writer and the Traitor, acclaimed journalist Robert Verkaik shines new light on one of the most fascinating friendships of the Cold War - proving that fact is stranger than fiction, and just as compelling.' - Charlotte Philby, author of Edith and Kim
'A superb spy book. This masterpiece of forensic research asks troubling new questions about two of Britain's most mysterious and famously complex figures. Verkaik explores wartime secret service and reveals its hidden stories of friendship, loyalty and betrayal.' - Richard J Aldrich, author of GCHQ
'The novelist's eye of Kim Philby's friend and MI6 colleague Graham Greene certainly provides a new perspective on the treachery of Philby and the Cambridge spies. It may not all be fact. But it is all certainly plausible. And that makes for a richly entertaining tale.' - Professor Sir David Omand, former UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator
The friendship between Graham Greene and Kim Philby is one of the most mysterious of the twentieth century. Greene, the internationally lauded novelist who wrestled with the themes of faith and betrayal in his work. Philby, the British intelligence-officer-turned-spy for the Soviets, and one of the most reviled men of his era. The two men met as young MI6 officers in war-torn London, working together to defeat the Nazis.
But after Greene suddenly resigned just days before D-Day, questions started to arise. He turned back to literature, using his experience in the intelligence services as a backdrop for his novel Our Man in Havana and the screenplay of The Third Man. Lurking within the pages lay suspicions of his friend, with characters and plots echoing Philby's life. Was Philby the real 'third man'? Did Greene's work contain coded messages and warnings of betrayal to M16?
In this revelatory book, bestselling author Robert Verkaik chronicles the relationship of these two giants of the 20th century, spanning the defeat of Nazism and the end of the Cold War, right up until Philby's death in 1988. This is more than just a riveting tale of espionage; it is the story of an unusual friendship that survived against all odds. Ultimately, The Writer and the Traitor explores the perplexing question that nobody yet has why did Graham Greene remain loyal to Britain's most hated traitor?
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 15, 2026
Graham Greene (1904-1991) was one of the great English novelists of the twentieth century. Kim Philby (1912-1988) was the most important and successful British traitor in the twentieth century. They were close friends. Greene stayed friends with Philby after he defected to Russia and defended him as someone who acted out of sincere beliefs.
This book attempts to unravel that complicated relationship. Greene was a leftist as a young man, but never a Communist. He converted to Catholicism in 1926. He had a relatively clear view of the dangers of Russian totalitarianism. He also had strong belief in the importance of loyalty and of trying to live consistent with your beliefs.
In WW2 Greene worked as a spy. He was sent to Sierra Leone. Kim Philpy, who was a career spy, was Greene's direct supervisor. They became friends. Unbeknownst to Greene, Philby was a Soviet agent. He was regularly delivering secret information to his Russian handlers. He was part of the "Cambridge Five" traitors at high levels in the British Intelligence services.
Greene resigned abruptly just before D-Day in 1943. Verkaik speculates that Greene may have learned of Philby's double agent work and resigned to get away from it.
Greene remained involved with British intelligence after he resigned. He was in the shadow world which spy agencies love. Verkaik traces the very slow and bumbling path that finally led to two of the five, Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess, fleeing to Russia. Philby was under heavy suspicion. He resigned in 1955. In 1963 it appeared that he was about to be charged with treason. He fled to Russia where he lived comfortably until his death in 1988.
Greene took an almost perverse pleasure in maintaining a friendship with Philby and defending him. He visited Philby in Russia several times. He wrote a positive forward to the autobiography which Philby wrote in Russia.
The most controversial line in Greene's forward to Philby's book is, "He betrayed his country- yes, perhaps he did, but who among us has not committed treason to something or someone more important than a country?" As an initial matter, there is no "perhaps" about his betraying his country. It is also an argument that would defend any traitor.
Verkaik has done a huge amount of work plowing through all of the files. He, of necessity, speculates a fair amount. In 1949 Greene's movie script, "The Third Man" was filmed in Vienna. It was a spy story and Verkaik tracks many of the echoes of Greene and Philby's spy work in the script.
Verkaik argues that Harry Lime, the corrupt mastermind in the middle of the plot, is based on Philby. Philby probably was recruited in Vienna in 1933. He made an exciting escape in the underground sewer tunnels when a right-wing government took over. Greene uses the sewers for a key scene in the movie. Verkaik speculates that the movie was somehow a warning from Grene to Philby, although it is all rather hazy.
This is a well told story. Verkaik is honest about when he speculates and why. At times the detail gets a bit overwhelming.
So far as I can see, Greene never dealt directly with the fact that Philby's treason included providing the Russians lists of British agents and warning the Russians of clandestine operations. That information lead directly to the death of those agents. It is hard for me to see that as noble.
This book attempts to unravel that complicated relationship. Greene was a leftist as a young man, but never a Communist. He converted to Catholicism in 1926. He had a relatively clear view of the dangers of Russian totalitarianism. He also had strong belief in the importance of loyalty and of trying to live consistent with your beliefs.
In WW2 Greene worked as a spy. He was sent to Sierra Leone. Kim Philpy, who was a career spy, was Greene's direct supervisor. They became friends. Unbeknownst to Greene, Philby was a Soviet agent. He was regularly delivering secret information to his Russian handlers. He was part of the "Cambridge Five" traitors at high levels in the British Intelligence services.
Greene resigned abruptly just before D-Day in 1943. Verkaik speculates that Greene may have learned of Philby's double agent work and resigned to get away from it.
Greene remained involved with British intelligence after he resigned. He was in the shadow world which spy agencies love. Verkaik traces the very slow and bumbling path that finally led to two of the five, Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess, fleeing to Russia. Philby was under heavy suspicion. He resigned in 1955. In 1963 it appeared that he was about to be charged with treason. He fled to Russia where he lived comfortably until his death in 1988.
Greene took an almost perverse pleasure in maintaining a friendship with Philby and defending him. He visited Philby in Russia several times. He wrote a positive forward to the autobiography which Philby wrote in Russia.
The most controversial line in Greene's forward to Philby's book is, "He betrayed his country- yes, perhaps he did, but who among us has not committed treason to something or someone more important than a country?" As an initial matter, there is no "perhaps" about his betraying his country. It is also an argument that would defend any traitor.
Verkaik has done a huge amount of work plowing through all of the files. He, of necessity, speculates a fair amount. In 1949 Greene's movie script, "The Third Man" was filmed in Vienna. It was a spy story and Verkaik tracks many of the echoes of Greene and Philby's spy work in the script.
Verkaik argues that Harry Lime, the corrupt mastermind in the middle of the plot, is based on Philby. Philby probably was recruited in Vienna in 1933. He made an exciting escape in the underground sewer tunnels when a right-wing government took over. Greene uses the sewers for a key scene in the movie. Verkaik speculates that the movie was somehow a warning from Grene to Philby, although it is all rather hazy.
This is a well told story. Verkaik is honest about when he speculates and why. At times the detail gets a bit overwhelming.
So far as I can see, Greene never dealt directly with the fact that Philby's treason included providing the Russians lists of British agents and warning the Russians of clandestine operations. That information lead directly to the death of those agents. It is hard for me to see that as noble.
June 4, 2026
Graham Greene was never an author to encourage affection, either for himself, despite numerous extra-marital affairs, nor any of his characters. Where John Le Carre’s Smiley and Ian Fleming’s James Bond, are, in their own ways, heroes, even Greene’s key protagonists ‘on the right side’ had very human faults.
Robert Verkaik highlights this in a deeply, historically researched, extensive and surprisingly well-penned and easily read book, The Writer and the Traitor. It examines the professional and personal lives of one of the most prolific and respected authors of the 20th Century, and his deep, enduring friendship with possibly the most reviled British spy of the same period, Kim Philby.
Whilst it’s important to have read several of Greene’s novels before tackling Verkaik’s book, it leaves readers with a strong desire to go back to several of them and read the re-defined real lives and names of the characters Greene has created. Verkaik’s style of writing is captivating and enthralling, rather than being a straightforward historic text. Neither Graham Greene nor Kim Philby is unblemished, but they are not roundly reviled. Their faults are properly set against a background of the century, its wars and subterfuges, and the power of espionage.
Robert Verkaik highlights this in a deeply, historically researched, extensive and surprisingly well-penned and easily read book, The Writer and the Traitor. It examines the professional and personal lives of one of the most prolific and respected authors of the 20th Century, and his deep, enduring friendship with possibly the most reviled British spy of the same period, Kim Philby.
Whilst it’s important to have read several of Greene’s novels before tackling Verkaik’s book, it leaves readers with a strong desire to go back to several of them and read the re-defined real lives and names of the characters Greene has created. Verkaik’s style of writing is captivating and enthralling, rather than being a straightforward historic text. Neither Graham Greene nor Kim Philby is unblemished, but they are not roundly reviled. Their faults are properly set against a background of the century, its wars and subterfuges, and the power of espionage.
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February 12, 2026review text for 2718
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews