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Empire of Fear
In 1954 Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov while working in the Soviet Embassy in Canberra, defected from the Soviet Union.
The Petrovs served the Soviets as agents during the purges before WWII, and as covert intelligence officers in Stockholm. Vladimir Petrov was the Third Secretary of the Soviet Embassy in Canberra and head of Soviet espionage in Australia.
This is their joint biographies, from their birth in pre-revolution Russia to their defection.
The Petrovs served the Soviets as agents during the purges before WWII, and as covert intelligence officers in Stockholm. Vladimir Petrov was the Third Secretary of the Soviet Embassy in Canberra and head of Soviet espionage in Australia.
This is their joint biographies, from their birth in pre-revolution Russia to their defection.
351 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1956
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 23, 2025
A very readable account, and great insight into the life of Soviet intelligence agents. Very humanising and honest.
It comes down from four stars, as the section on their Australia posting seems to be ... missing something. Perhaps it isn't - I don't know. Naturally, given their profession and the circumstances of their defection, there is probably a lot that could not be published.
The story of their defection, Vladamir's story, and Evdokia's dramatic escape in Darwin, is fascinating. Highly readable.
I recommend the book, but be aware they probably couldn't include some things, and there is a natural self-justifying bent to the story.
It comes down from four stars, as the section on their Australia posting seems to be ... missing something. Perhaps it isn't - I don't know. Naturally, given their profession and the circumstances of their defection, there is probably a lot that could not be published.
The story of their defection, Vladamir's story, and Evdokia's dramatic escape in Darwin, is fascinating. Highly readable.
I recommend the book, but be aware they probably couldn't include some things, and there is a natural self-justifying bent to the story.
December 25, 2020
Aligns well with the material in the Petrovs' debriefings in Australian archival materials.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews