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Document Z: Lies, Deception and Betrayal - a Msasterful Story of Espionage and Intrigue
Masterful, taut, and atmospheric, this novel of political espionage and intrigue tells the story of a real-life dramatic defection during the 1950s Cold War Evdokia knew that the crowd was here for her. Hunting her. She was certain these people would kill her before they'd let her through the terminal and onto the plane. This might be it, she realised. Defector's Wife Dies in Airport Shootout. Canberra, 1951, te Cold War is at its height. Into an atmosphere of paranoia, rumor, and suspicion, Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov are among a group of new arrivals at the Soviet Embassy in Canberra. Both are party loyalists, working for the Moscow intelligence. Yet all is not well in the new city of Canberra. The atmosphere in the embassy is tense and suspicious; the ambassador resents their presence and is secretly working to have
350 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 25, 2017
Document Z is a fictionalised account of the 1950s Petrov Affair, when Vladimir Petrov and his wife Evdokia defected while working in the Russian embassy in Canberra. At the time Vladimir was a junior secretary and his wife was a member of the MVD (ministry for internal affairs/secret service) involved in encoding and decrypting messages for Moscow. Their defection at the height of the Cold War was to have repercussions in Australian politics for decades to come and was said to contribute to the loss of the 1954 Australian election by the Labour party, leading to the re-election of Robert Menzies and resulting in a major split in the Labour party which did not win an election again until 1972. The Petrovs were also able to name many Australians involved in passing information to Moscow, resulting in a Royal Commission to look into all the allegations. The defection also led to a breakdown in Australian-Soviet relationships, with the USSSR recalling their embassy from Canberra and expelling the Australian embassy in Moscow.
Andrew Croome has imagined the Petrovs lives as members of the Russian embassy in Canberra and the events leading up to their defection. He delves into their relationship, their habits and how Vladimir came into contact with ASIO via his association with the Polish doctor and musician Michael Bialoguski. After Vladimir defected in Sydney, Edvokia was held in the embassy and then hustled onto a flight to Russia, leading to the famous photo of her missing a shoe and being dragged towards the plane by two burly MVD agents. The drama continued when the plane stopped to refuel in Darwin where ASIO officers were waiting to ask her if she wanted to stay in Autralia.
Winning the 2008 Australian/Vogel Award, this is an intriguing account of an interesting political event that put Australia on the world stage and affected our nation politically for years to come. 3.5★
Andrew Croome has imagined the Petrovs lives as members of the Russian embassy in Canberra and the events leading up to their defection. He delves into their relationship, their habits and how Vladimir came into contact with ASIO via his association with the Polish doctor and musician Michael Bialoguski. After Vladimir defected in Sydney, Edvokia was held in the embassy and then hustled onto a flight to Russia, leading to the famous photo of her missing a shoe and being dragged towards the plane by two burly MVD agents. The drama continued when the plane stopped to refuel in Darwin where ASIO officers were waiting to ask her if she wanted to stay in Autralia.
Winning the 2008 Australian/Vogel Award, this is an intriguing account of an interesting political event that put Australia on the world stage and affected our nation politically for years to come. 3.5★
October 26, 2021
Document Z, which is a fictionalised version of the actual defection of Russian agents, the Petrovs, in Australia in 1954, won the Vogel's Literary Award for Andrew Croome in 2008.
Based on actual events, and on detailed research initially assembled for an academic thesis on the topic, this is an imagined version of the lives of Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov, activities inside the Russian Embassy in Canberra, and the actions of Australian intelligence and political figures at the time.
The husband and wife team were members of the MVD, the secret service (predating the KGB), sent to seek out worthwhile intelligence to pass back to Moscow. Less than a decade after the end of WWII, the Cold War was in full swing and Russia was desperate to establish itself as a genuine world power.
Unfortunately, Vladimir Petrov was an ill-disciplined agent and husband, a heavy drinker and prolific womaniser, who was sorely tempted by the freedoms and opportunities to be found in a democratic country like Australia. Evdokia also had tendencies to be provocative and fell out with many of the Embassy staff.
Vladimir made the first moves to 'come across', encouraged by his friendship with Russian expatriate doctor Bialoguski (who later wrote his own version of the Petrov story). Bialoguski was working for Australian intelligence (ASIO).
Evdokia was not so sure, given that she had family back in Russia (unlike Vladmir), who might suffer consequences for her defection. She agreed, reluctantly, at the very last minute.
Croome has done an excellent job in documenting this fascinating chapter in Australia's national security history, an episode that is generally well known. The government of the day made much of its success in convincing senior Soviet agents to defect and give up many secrets about Russian espionage activities.
Croome has brought he story to life by presenting it as fiction rather than history, which makes it certainly worth checking out if you are interested in 'real' spy stories.
Based on actual events, and on detailed research initially assembled for an academic thesis on the topic, this is an imagined version of the lives of Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov, activities inside the Russian Embassy in Canberra, and the actions of Australian intelligence and political figures at the time.
The husband and wife team were members of the MVD, the secret service (predating the KGB), sent to seek out worthwhile intelligence to pass back to Moscow. Less than a decade after the end of WWII, the Cold War was in full swing and Russia was desperate to establish itself as a genuine world power.
Unfortunately, Vladimir Petrov was an ill-disciplined agent and husband, a heavy drinker and prolific womaniser, who was sorely tempted by the freedoms and opportunities to be found in a democratic country like Australia. Evdokia also had tendencies to be provocative and fell out with many of the Embassy staff.
Vladimir made the first moves to 'come across', encouraged by his friendship with Russian expatriate doctor Bialoguski (who later wrote his own version of the Petrov story). Bialoguski was working for Australian intelligence (ASIO).
Evdokia was not so sure, given that she had family back in Russia (unlike Vladmir), who might suffer consequences for her defection. She agreed, reluctantly, at the very last minute.
Croome has done an excellent job in documenting this fascinating chapter in Australia's national security history, an episode that is generally well known. The government of the day made much of its success in convincing senior Soviet agents to defect and give up many secrets about Russian espionage activities.
Croome has brought he story to life by presenting it as fiction rather than history, which makes it certainly worth checking out if you are interested in 'real' spy stories.
December 12, 2012
Super book -- one I'd definitely recommend. Document Z is a fictional re-imagining of a real event that took place in Australia during the Cold War years of the 1950s. I'd previously never heard of what ultimately became known as "the Petrov Affair," the defection of two Soviets working at the Soviet embassy in Canberra that ultimately revealed clandestine Soviet activity in different areas of Australia's government. Vladimir (Volodya) Petrov and his wife Evdokia held diplomatic posts at the embassy, but in reality they were also spies working for the MVD, the USSR's Ministry of Internal Affairs. Further exploration led to an incredible photo which mirrors the action occurring as the novel opens, that of Evdokia being escorted through a crowd at Sydney's then Mascot Airport by a couple of big, brawny minders whose job is to get her on a flight that will eventually take her back to Moscow after her husband defected. Then the crowd becomes a mob which tries to keep Evdokia from getting into the plane, trying to keep her in Sydney away from the possibility of Soviet reprisals. (for the actual photos, click here.
The question Andrew Croome asks is how did it come down to this? The answer is laid out in this most excellent, intelligent and engaging novel as he reconstructs not only the events leading up to this particular day in 1954, but also as he imagines the inner turmoil of the Petrovs during their time at the Soviet embassy in Canberra, especially after the death of Stalin and the arrest of Beria become a major game changer. Added to the Petrovs, Croome brings in other players in the game, both Soviet and Australian, and also explores life for the Petrovs after their defections to some extent as well.
The story begins three years earlier introducing the Petrovs, moving through their daily work routines and their home life in Canberra. Coming to Australia from a post in Sweden, Evdokia is secretly a captain in MVD intelligence decrypting coded messsages but openly works for the ambassador, while ironically, the job of Vladimir (also a spy) is to prevent defections. But within the embassy it's all about power, political intrigue, and paranoia; the Petrovs often find themselves on the receiving end of trouble, with trumped-up charges that find their way back to Moscow in the ambassador's reports; no small worry for Evdokia who still has family back in the Soviet Union. They are also sure they are being watched constantly outside of the embassy, but they're not sure who is and is not an agent spying on them. Then the ambassador receives word of Stalin's death and Beria's arrest -- and when Evdokia and Vladimir are told that they are being replaced and will be returning home shortly thereafter, Vladimir, who has been secretly courted as ripe for defection, decides the time is right to make his move but tells Evdokia nothing.
Not only is the story behind the Petrov defections intriguing and compelling on its own, the author's re-imagining of their personal lives is also credible. There is not a great deal of emotion shared by this couple; often they come across as rather flat together but all the same their inner lives are in turmoil. Evdokia cannot stop thinking of her dead daughter; Vladimir drinks, visits prostitutes and is faced with the life-changing experience of giving away his country's secrets. Add in the author's excellent depiction of the political atmosphere of the time, as well as the workings of the fledgling Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), and Document Z jumps miles above the usual spy fare. In fact, after I finished the book and went on to read what I could about "The Petrov Affair," I was taken aback at the realistic tone of the author's rendition of this story. I couldn't put it down while reading it and most definitely recommend it.
The question Andrew Croome asks is how did it come down to this? The answer is laid out in this most excellent, intelligent and engaging novel as he reconstructs not only the events leading up to this particular day in 1954, but also as he imagines the inner turmoil of the Petrovs during their time at the Soviet embassy in Canberra, especially after the death of Stalin and the arrest of Beria become a major game changer. Added to the Petrovs, Croome brings in other players in the game, both Soviet and Australian, and also explores life for the Petrovs after their defections to some extent as well.
The story begins three years earlier introducing the Petrovs, moving through their daily work routines and their home life in Canberra. Coming to Australia from a post in Sweden, Evdokia is secretly a captain in MVD intelligence decrypting coded messsages but openly works for the ambassador, while ironically, the job of Vladimir (also a spy) is to prevent defections. But within the embassy it's all about power, political intrigue, and paranoia; the Petrovs often find themselves on the receiving end of trouble, with trumped-up charges that find their way back to Moscow in the ambassador's reports; no small worry for Evdokia who still has family back in the Soviet Union. They are also sure they are being watched constantly outside of the embassy, but they're not sure who is and is not an agent spying on them. Then the ambassador receives word of Stalin's death and Beria's arrest -- and when Evdokia and Vladimir are told that they are being replaced and will be returning home shortly thereafter, Vladimir, who has been secretly courted as ripe for defection, decides the time is right to make his move but tells Evdokia nothing.
Not only is the story behind the Petrov defections intriguing and compelling on its own, the author's re-imagining of their personal lives is also credible. There is not a great deal of emotion shared by this couple; often they come across as rather flat together but all the same their inner lives are in turmoil. Evdokia cannot stop thinking of her dead daughter; Vladimir drinks, visits prostitutes and is faced with the life-changing experience of giving away his country's secrets. Add in the author's excellent depiction of the political atmosphere of the time, as well as the workings of the fledgling Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), and Document Z jumps miles above the usual spy fare. In fact, after I finished the book and went on to read what I could about "The Petrov Affair," I was taken aback at the realistic tone of the author's rendition of this story. I couldn't put it down while reading it and most definitely recommend it.
July 10, 2014
Even though the Petrov Affair happened more than a decade before I was born, it's hard to imagine any Australian my age that hadn't heard of it. But I wonder how many of us knew who Petrov was?
Petrov was a Russian spy stationed in his country's embassy in Canberra. It was the cold war and the western world was looking over its shoulder for the red menace. Petrov defected and brought a lot of secrets with him - it made international headlines.
Document Z is a fictionalised account of the Petrov Affair, and from the moment I heard about it I was keen to read it.
I have to confess that I was expecting an exciting spy novel with one adventure after another. But that wasn't the point of it - Document Z it's an emotional thriller that slowly ratchets up the tension.... more of a slow garrotte than a flurry of bullets.
I found myself feeling disappointed until about the halfway point and was preparing myself to write a damning review. But then I realised that I'd become so invested I couldn't put this book down. My advice to the potential reader is that you don't walk into this expecting James Bond. If you understand upfront that it isn't that kind of novel, you'll enjoy it more.
Petrov was a Russian spy stationed in his country's embassy in Canberra. It was the cold war and the western world was looking over its shoulder for the red menace. Petrov defected and brought a lot of secrets with him - it made international headlines.
Document Z is a fictionalised account of the Petrov Affair, and from the moment I heard about it I was keen to read it.
I have to confess that I was expecting an exciting spy novel with one adventure after another. But that wasn't the point of it - Document Z it's an emotional thriller that slowly ratchets up the tension.... more of a slow garrotte than a flurry of bullets.
I found myself feeling disappointed until about the halfway point and was preparing myself to write a damning review. But then I realised that I'd become so invested I couldn't put this book down. My advice to the potential reader is that you don't walk into this expecting James Bond. If you understand upfront that it isn't that kind of novel, you'll enjoy it more.
February 6, 2021
A novelisation of the Petrov Affair from Vladimir and Evdokia’s arrival in Canberra in 1951 to a final chapter covering 1961-1996. The novel started as a PhD thesis and it uses available sources effectively even though motives remain a little enigmatic. Nevertheless it is genuinely involving and tense in places as the characters of those in the Embassy and the Australian security services plus local informers are fully developed. Neither Petrov is particularly likeable and 1950s life (apart from their using seat-belts!) is well-portrayed.
October 8, 2010
As the blurb says, Canberra, 1951, the Cold War at its height. In Australia it all became very high profile with the defection of a Soviet spy and the drama around the Soviet's attempt to repatriate his wife to the USSR immediately. Whilst it's a true story, the "Petrov Affair" probably isn't that well known outside Australia - but it was quite an event here. DOCUMENT Z takes the true story as its basis, and fictionalises the viewpoint of the husband and wife - Evdokia and Vladimir Petrov.
The voices of these two are compelling, albeit very contained, almost dry - which seems perfectly apt given who they are and the timeframe in which the book is set. As the story is told it moves between day to day life within the Embassy (she worked for the Ambassador / he is an agent for Moscow Intelligence - MVD) and at home in the Canberra suburbs. The background to what life could have really been like for a Soviet couple transplanted to extremely English, very territorial, closed up 1950's Canberra is cleverly drawn out. Coming via Sweden wouldn't have helped as there is not only the differences between Soviet / Swedish sensibility and Australian society at that time - there's also the massive changes in climate and the dislocation that the extreme heat of Australia can cause - let alone in before air-conditioning, early development, tree-less Canberra within the cliques of the Embassy crowd.
The book carefully builds a picture of an Embassy riven by political intrigue and power-games, through to a society driven by much the same imperative and the precariousness of the situation of the two central characters who basically, were on the wrong side of an Ambassador. It takes you through the complications of trying to build a life, a home, a family in an environment where you can be moved / recalled at any stage. It shows the pressure that could be placed on people when they have family and loved-ones at home, and the regime is not afraid to use fear and pressure to ensure compliance. And it shows the paranoia and real intimidation that plays out in the game of spying.
When reading this book, the timeframe in which the action takes place, and the political climate and origins of the central characters need to be kept in the forefront of your mind. The delivery style seems very dry and almost flat in an Australian context, but somehow apt in a Soviet, Cold War environment where every word and action can be analysed, nuanced and used against you. The other thing that you really do need to keep reminding yourself of is that this is a fictional account. It's a measure of how well the book tells this story, that makes it really easy to forget that.
The voices of these two are compelling, albeit very contained, almost dry - which seems perfectly apt given who they are and the timeframe in which the book is set. As the story is told it moves between day to day life within the Embassy (she worked for the Ambassador / he is an agent for Moscow Intelligence - MVD) and at home in the Canberra suburbs. The background to what life could have really been like for a Soviet couple transplanted to extremely English, very territorial, closed up 1950's Canberra is cleverly drawn out. Coming via Sweden wouldn't have helped as there is not only the differences between Soviet / Swedish sensibility and Australian society at that time - there's also the massive changes in climate and the dislocation that the extreme heat of Australia can cause - let alone in before air-conditioning, early development, tree-less Canberra within the cliques of the Embassy crowd.
The book carefully builds a picture of an Embassy riven by political intrigue and power-games, through to a society driven by much the same imperative and the precariousness of the situation of the two central characters who basically, were on the wrong side of an Ambassador. It takes you through the complications of trying to build a life, a home, a family in an environment where you can be moved / recalled at any stage. It shows the pressure that could be placed on people when they have family and loved-ones at home, and the regime is not afraid to use fear and pressure to ensure compliance. And it shows the paranoia and real intimidation that plays out in the game of spying.
When reading this book, the timeframe in which the action takes place, and the political climate and origins of the central characters need to be kept in the forefront of your mind. The delivery style seems very dry and almost flat in an Australian context, but somehow apt in a Soviet, Cold War environment where every word and action can be analysed, nuanced and used against you. The other thing that you really do need to keep reminding yourself of is that this is a fictional account. It's a measure of how well the book tells this story, that makes it really easy to forget that.
July 27, 2011
Most of the action in Document-Z happens within a few hundred metres of my house and I think that gave the book an extra layer of charm for me. I was born well after the events in the book but remember hearing about and reading about the Petrov Affair as a kid and being fascinated by the idea of Soviet Agents living in Canberra.
The book puts a very human face on these people and the story really rips along. I read the whole book on plane rides between Sydney and Canberra and have since bought it a few times as gifts for other Canberra friends.
If you live in Canberra, or have an interest in Australian political history, or simply enjoy espionage tales then this is a book for you.
The book does not cover how Menzies then went on to manipulate the Petrov affair but I guess that's another story.
The book puts a very human face on these people and the story really rips along. I read the whole book on plane rides between Sydney and Canberra and have since bought it a few times as gifts for other Canberra friends.
If you live in Canberra, or have an interest in Australian political history, or simply enjoy espionage tales then this is a book for you.
The book does not cover how Menzies then went on to manipulate the Petrov affair but I guess that's another story.
August 16, 2014
Andrew Croome won the 2008 Vogel with this novel, and it’s very good. Espionage and political novels are not usually of much interest to me, but this one is a fictionalised story of the Petrov Affair and it’s put a human face on events that previously were just ‘history before my time’ .
The Petrovs, who defected from the then USSR in the 1950s may well still be alive, possibly still living here in Australia. Joe Public will never know, though perhaps glasnost and the new Russian regime no longer have any interest in them anyway?
What this book made clear to me was just how momentous a decision defection was, and not just because it meant the Petrovs could never go home.
For more see
http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/200...
The Petrovs, who defected from the then USSR in the 1950s may well still be alive, possibly still living here in Australia. Joe Public will never know, though perhaps glasnost and the new Russian regime no longer have any interest in them anyway?
What this book made clear to me was just how momentous a decision defection was, and not just because it meant the Petrovs could never go home.
For more see
http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/200...
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July 25, 2011A worthy winner of the Vogel Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript - this will be published next month.
The novel evokes Australia in the 1950's at the height of Cold War paranoia by following two members of the Russian embassy, Vladimir and Edvokia Petrov - yes THAT Petrov.
The novel is full of intrigue and deception even though we have a rough idea of how events will play out - if we remember our history classes or were around at the time!
I was engaged for the full duration of the novel as I wondered how all the layers of deceit and jostling for positions within the embassy were going to work out, and who it was that would crack first when having to deal with the Capitalist Australian system. ;)
The novel evokes Australia in the 1950's at the height of Cold War paranoia by following two members of the Russian embassy, Vladimir and Edvokia Petrov - yes THAT Petrov.
The novel is full of intrigue and deception even though we have a rough idea of how events will play out - if we remember our history classes or were around at the time!
I was engaged for the full duration of the novel as I wondered how all the layers of deceit and jostling for positions within the embassy were going to work out, and who it was that would crack first when having to deal with the Capitalist Australian system. ;)
October 21, 2009
Although fiction based on fact, this was a great insight into one of the great political dramas in Australia. It made me want to read more about the real Petrovs.
September 17, 2016
Petrov Affair. Canberra setting. Excellent.
May 2, 2013
Well written historical fiction novel about the Petrov affair.
April 6, 2016
Well - I didn't really read it. I started it and the prose was so dull that I couldn't get past the first couple of chapters. And it won a Vogel Literary Award?!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews