| Title | : | The Bedbug: Klop Ustinov: Britain's Most Ingenious Spy (Dialogue Espionage Classics) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 184954946X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781849549462 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 309 |
| Publication | : | First published July 9, 2015 |
The Bedbug: Klop Ustinov: Britain's Most Ingenious Spy (Dialogue Espionage Classics) Reviews
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A quite remarkable man.
For all his faults he must be seen as one of those who gave everything he could, at great risk to himself, to affect the course of the war.
An absorbing read. -
An encyclopaedic look at Jona Ustinov.
I'd suggest, someone when he was of early years mentioned to him, 'you only get one shot at this, make the most of it.' He did.
What a life.
What a story.
I agree with Helen: every page is a revelation. -
A story centred on Jona [Klop] Ustinov (Peter Ustinov’s father). Former German journalist and diplomat, agent of MI5 and MI6.
The story begins way back in the 19th Century, with goings in Ethiopia:
David Hall: Klop’s uncle, son of Moritz and Katarina, later Counsellor of State to the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Katarina Hall (aka Wayzaru Walatta Iyassus): Klop’s grandmother, Abyssinian aristocrat and wife of Moritz. Hall, Moritz: Klop’s grandfather, of Polish extraction, missionary and armament maker to Emperor Theodore of Abyssinia. Peter Metzler: Evangelical pastor who converted Klop’s father Platon to Protestantism. Maria Metzler: Pastor’s daughter and Platon Ustinov’s first wife. Nadia Benois,(Nadezhda Leontievna): Klop’s Russian wife, artist and theatre designer, daughter of architect Leontij and niece of Alexandre. Benois, Alexandre: leading light of the World of Art movement and Ballet Russes [Russia]. Leontij Benois, (Louis): Nadia’s father, architect and professor at the Academy of Arts. Albert Benois: Nadia’s uncle, successful water colourist. Alberto Cavos: Nadia’s great grandfather, architect and designer of Mariinsky Theatre home of the Imperial Ballet. Matthew Edwardes: British businessman married to Nadia’s aunt Camilla. The family went into exile in Britain and Matthew’s grandson Julius became Peter Ustinov’s business adviser. General Dmitri Horvath: Married to Nadia’s cousin Camilla. Leader of the White Russian rebellion in Vladivostok against the Communist revolution, with British support.
It would be quite something to see the entire family tree!
He fought for Germany, gallantly, in WWI.
He spied for Britain during WWII and a good part of the Cold War.
This is a remarkable tale, I cannot contemplate the research behind this book. A remarkable man: not perfect by any means, but dedicated to the cause.
I found this hard to put down, almost every page is a revelation. I’m sure all but a few, historians, know of what actually went on: what was published, what was covered up. Me, phew, what an incredible peek into the spy business.
Another book that now sits on the ‘Read it Again’ shelf. -
It's a great read.
Astonishing that he could achieve as much as he did. -
I trust this is all true. It's one heck of a story.
To live so many lies and stay alive, I would suggest takes an incredible mind.
A truly entertaining read. -
What a life he led.
This has to be a film.
A cracking read: I'm reading this and thinking he has to survive to the end of the book, but at the same time thinking he's going to get caught! -
An incredulous tale and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Can it all be the truth and nothing but the truth? I doubt it. We've had a few 'not so true' written by the journalist profession up for review of late.
Journalists, hmmmmm...
"Peter Day (the author of this remarkable biography) has forty years' experience in journalism, including more than a decade as a senior reporter and newsdesk executive for the Mail on Sunday. Since turning freelance he has specialised in archive research, breaking exclusive stories on politics, royalty, military history and espionage."
Can this be as close to the truth as the author was able? Errrrrrr...
Page 5:
"All of these [a great many] people have helped me get closer to the truth about an elusive subject but cannot be held responsible for errors and misapprehensions. It has always to be borne in mind that the original source for much of what follows was two world champion raconteurs, Klop and his son Peter, and they may, just occasionally, have been guilty of that failing so often attributed to journalists – not letting the facts get in the way of a good story."
From then on, it all bode well with me. I'm happy the author did try to get at the truth and, for me, he's made a spiffing job of telling it.
I do admire the likes of Klop and Co. It was different time, a time that needed such people. -
Actor, director, storyteller and humorist Peter Ustinov's father was in some ways an even more colorful character than his son. He was a charmer, womaniser, art dealer, international bon vivant and a spy.
Nicknamed The Bedbug by his wife (an artist, who still lived with him his whole life) he negotiated the labyrinth of intrigue from post-WWI, through WWII, and into the Cold War. This is his story in all its complexity and tortuous detail. A thoroughly entertaining peek into the clandestine world of intrigue within intrigue. - BH. -
I thank Helen for putting this on the table. I had never heard of Klop Ustinov.
What a read!
It's definitely an edge of your seat, page turner.
Klop was by no means perfect; who is?
Even when accepting his faults/failings, you have to take your hat off to this chap.
One might say, he lived life to the full: he lived on a high-wire. How he ever was able to relax/switch-off/sleep, I can't imagine. -
So much of the book was taken up with the stories of other people other than Klop. Sad that he didn’t even get a pension after all he contributed to the Allied side.
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A great and enjoyable read … and, an eye-opener on the real-world of espionage: a subject I just can’t get enough of.
Peter Day did earn his crust as a mainstream media (national paper) journalist and testifies to the research undertaken in order to get this biography of Klop Ustinov, the father of Peter Ustinov (of acting fame) to publication.
This is one heck of a story … and, one does get the feeling, it’s unvarnished.
I may be wrong, but I am of the belief the sneaky-beaky, secret squirrel, mob were never first in line when it came to getting their chest pinned. However, Klop Ustinov should have been spiked more than the once.
This is an incredible tale.
