The true believer : the secret life of Noel Field, Stalin's last American spy

This astonishing real-life spy thriller, filled with danger, misplaced loyalties, betrayal, treachery, and pure evil, with a plot twist worthy of John le Carré, is relevant today as a tale of fanaticism and the lengths it takes us to. True Believer reveals the life of Noel Field, an American who betrayed his country and crushed his family. Field, once a well-meaning and privileged American, spied for Stalin during the 1930s and '40s. Then, a pawn in Stalin's sinister master strategy, Field was kidnapped and tortured by the KGB and forced to testify against his own Communist comrades. How does an Ivy League-educated, US State Department employee, deeply rooted in American culture and history, become a hardcore Stalinist? The 1930s, when Noel Field joined the secret underground of the International Communist Movement, were a time of national collapse: ten million Americans unemployed, rampant racism, retreat from the world just as fascism was gaining ground,... "Kati Marton's True Believer is a true story of intrigue, treachery, murder, torture, fascism, and an unshakable faith in the ideals of Communism....A fresh take on espionage activities from a critical period of history" ( Washington Independent Review of Books ). True Believer reveals the life of Noel Field, once a well-meaning and privileged American who spied for Stalin during the 1930s and forties. Later, a pawn in Stalin's sinister master strategy, Field was kidnapped and tortured by the KGB and forced to testify against his own Communist comrades. How does an Ivy League-educated, US State Department employee, deeply rooted in American culture and history, become a hardcore Stalinist? The 1930s, when Noel Field joined the secret underground of the International Communist Movement, were a time of national collapse. Communism promised the righting of social and political wrongs and many in Field's generation were seduced by its siren song. Few, however, went as far as Noel Field in betraying their own country. With a reporter's eye for detail, and a historian's grasp of the cataclysmic events of the twentieth century, Kati Marton, in a "relevant...fascinating...vividly reconstructed" ( The New York Times Book Review ) account, captures Field's riveting quest for a life of meaning that went horribly wrong. True Believer is supported by unprecedented access to Field family correspondence, Soviet Secret Police records, and reporting on key players from Alger Hiss, CIA Director Allen Dulles, and World War II spy master, "Wild Bill" Donovan—to the most sinister of all: Josef Stalin. "Relevant today as a tale of fanaticism and the lengths it can take one to" ( Publishers Weekly ), True Believer is "riveting reading" ( USA TODAY ), an astonishing real-life spy thriller, filled with danger, misplaced loyalties, betrayal, treachery, and pure evil, with a plot twist worthy of John le Carré. "Relevant...fascinating...vividly reconstructed." ? The New York Times Book Review This astonishing real-life spy thriller, filled with danger, misplaced loyalties, betrayal, treachery, and pure evil, with a plot twist worthy of John le Carr?, is relevant today as a tale of fanaticism and the lengths it takes us to. True Believer reveals the life of Noel Field, an American who betrayed his country and crushed his family. Field, once a well-meaning and privileged American, spied for Stalin during the 1930s and '40s. Then, a pawn in Stalin's sinister master strategy, Field was kidnapped and tortured by the KGB and forced to testify against his own Communist comrades. How does an Ivy League-educated, US State Department employee, deeply rooted in American culture and history, become a hardcore Stalinist? The 1930s, when Noel Field joined the secret underground of the International Communist Movement, were a time of national collapse: ten million Americans unemployed, rampant racism, retreat from the world just as fascism was gaining ground, and Washington?pre FDR?parched of fresh ideas. Communism promised the righting of social and political wrongs and many in Field's generation were seduced by its siren song. Few, however, went as far as Noel Field in betraying their own country. With a reporter's eye for detail, and a historian's grasp of the cataclysmic events of the twentieth century, Kati Marton captures Field's riveting quest for a life of meaning that went horribly wrong. True Believer is supported by unprecedented access to Field family correspondence, Soviet Secret Police records, and reporting on key players from Alger Hiss, CIA Director Allen Dulles, and World War II spy master, "Wild Bill" Donovan?to the most sinister of all: Josef Stalin. A story of another time, this is a tale relevant for all times "This astonishing real-life spy thriller, filled with danger, misplaced loyalties, betrayal, treachery, and pure evil, with a plot twist worthy of John le Carre, is relevant today as a tale of fanaticism and the lengths it takes us to. True Believer reveals the life of Noel Field, an American who betrayed his country and crushed his family. Field, once a well-meaning and privileged American, spied for Stalin during the 1930s and '40s. Then a pawn in Stalin's sinister master strategy, Field was kidnapped and tortured by the KGB and forced to testify against his own Communist comrades. How does an Ivy League-educated, US State Department employee, deeply rooted in American culture and history, become a hardcore Stalinist? The 1930s, when Noel Field joined the secret underground of the International Communist Movement, were a time of national collapse: ten million Americans unemployed, rampant racism, retreat from the world just as fascism was gaining ground, and Washington--pre FDR--parched of fresh ideas. Communism promised the righting of social and political wrongs and many in Field's generation were seduced by its siren song. Few, however, went as far as Noel Field in betraying their own country. With a reporter's eye for detail, and a historian's grasp of the cataclysmic events of the twentieth century, Kati Marton captures Field's riveting quest for a life of meaning that went horribly wrong. True Believer is supported by unprecedented access to Field family correspondence, Soviet Secret Police records, and reporting on key players from Alger Hiss, CIA Director Allen Dulles, and World War II spy master, 'Wild Bill' Donovan--to the most sinister of all: Josef Stalin. A story of another time, this is a tale relevant for all times"-- Provided by publisher This Book Transports The Reader To A Turbulent Era In Which Fascism And Communism Are On The Rise And America Retreats From The World. Noel Field Joined The Secret Underground Of The International Communist Movement During A Time Of National Collapse, When Communism Promised The Righting Of All Social And Political Wrongs. Many In Field's Generation Were Seduced By Its Siren Song, But None Paid A Higher Price For His Betrayal Of His Country And His Family Than Field. With A Reporter's Eye And A Historian's Grasp Of The Cataclysmic Events Of The Twentieth Century, Kati Marton Captures Field's Futile And Tragic Quest For A Life Of Meaning, Which Caused His And His Family's Near Destruction. Marton Gained Access To Previously Unavailable Soviet Secret Police Records, Reporting On Figures From Alger Hiss, Cia Director Allen Dulles, And Wild Bill Donovan To Josef Stalin. She Also Had Access To Field Family Correspondence, Which Offers An Intimate Portrait Of The Human Drama. The Story Of An Idealistic Young American Captured By A Poisonous Belief And Manipulated By Demagogues, True Believer Is A Book For Our Troubled Time.--from Dust Jacket. A Swiss Childhood -- America -- The Making Of A Radical -- The Convert -- Spy Games -- Spies In Flight -- Desperate Comrades -- Spain -- War -- Marseille -- The Spy In Wartime -- Child Of The Century -- Cold Peace -- Man Without A Country--1948 -- The End Of The Line -- Bloodlust Again -- Kidnapped -- Two More Fields Disappear -- Erica Falls In The Net -- The Prisons Open -- Still Not Free -- The Age Of Suspicion -- Twilight Years -- Prague -- Home At Last -- The Stranger. Kati Marton. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 253-272) And Index. True Believer reveals the life of Noel Field, an American who betrayed his country and crushed his family. Field, once a well-meaning and privileged American, spied for Stalin during the 1930s and '40s. Then a pawn in Stalin's sinister master strategy, Field was kidnapped and tortured by the KGB and forced to testify against his own Communist comrades. How does an Ivy League-educated, U.S. State Department employee, deeply rooted in American culture and history, become a hardcore Stalinist? The 1930s, when Noel Field joined the secret underground of the International Communist Movement, were a time of national collapse: ten million Americans unemployed, rampant racism, retreat from the world just as fascism was gaining ground, and Washington -- pre-FDR -- parched of fresh ideas. Communism promised the righting of social and political wrongs and many in Field's generation were seduced by its siren song. Few, however, went as far as Noel Field in betraying their own country. Kati Marton captures Field's quest for a life of meaning that went horribly wrong. True Believer is supported by access to Field family correspondence, Soviet Secret Police records, and reporting on key players from Alger Hiss, CIA Director Allen Dulles, and World War II spy master, 'Wild Bill' Donovan -- to the most sinister of all: Josef Stalin