The Happy Traitor by Simon Kuper review – the extraordinary story of George Blake

I never belonged': this is the most illuminating book yet written about the spy and his defection to the Soviet Union

George Blake's story, Simon Kuper writes, is known only to a few people and then only insofar as anything can be known for certain in the world of deceit that is spying". His first assertion is questionable; there are now eight books devoted to Blake on my shelves, including that by the anti-war campaigners Michael Randle and Pat Pottle on their role and motives in helping his dramatic escape from prison. But this is the most illuminating account by far.

Kuper's second point must be true - neither side in the world of double agents has an interest in coming clean. MI6 files on Blake remain suppressed, merely to avoid embarrassment, one suspects. There is nothing to suggest that Blake's death in December at the age of 98 will persuade MI6 to adopt a more relaxed attitude towards the files they hold on this truly extraordinary case.