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George Blake was the embodiment of the quintessential British gentleman. Charismatic, intelligent, and radiating charm, he was, to MI6, the very model of an intelligence officer.

However, beneath this polished exterior lay a mastermind of deception. Enthralled by the promise of a Communist utopia and disillusioned by NATO military tactics during the Korean War, Blake turned his back on his homeland, betraying national secrets and fellow agents to the Soviets during the tense 1950s era of the Cold War.

Unlike many of those whom he betrayed, Blake went on to enjoy a long life in Moscow, courtesy of the Kremlin. With decades to ponder his life’s choices, he harboured no regrets. To the very end, he remained a contented spy, his conscience unburdened, believing that in the world of espionage, no one is truly innocent.