Ben Macintyre's 'Redwood' Recounts Cold War Defection Story Set in Revolutionary Iran
A new book by historian Ben Macintyre chronicles the defection of a KGB officer and his relationship with an MI6 handler during the turbulence of Iran's revolution, according to a review published by The Guardian.
A review published by The Guardian's Culture section on September 16, 2026, describes Ben Macintyre's latest work of nonfiction, titled "Redwood," as a "page-turning masterpiece" recounting a Cold War-era espionage tale involving a Soviet agent and his British intelligence handler in revolutionary Iran.
According to the review, Macintyre opens the book by introducing his own framework, the acronym MICE, which he uses to describe common motivations behind espionage betrayals: Money, Ideology, Coercion or Ego. The review notes that Macintyre identifies an additional, more personal motivation in this particular case.
The book centers on Vladimir Kuzichkin, described in the review as a KGB officer operating under significant personal and professional strain. The Guardian's review states that Kuzichkin was dealing with stress, alcohol use, constant surveillance, anger over perceived corruption among colleagues, and difficulties in his home life at the time.
Per the review, Kuzichkin is depicted as offering to hand over secrets belonging to the Soviet Union and its Iranian allies in exchange for medical assistance from a British doctor to address a personal health issue, which the review describes as erectile dysfunction.
The review characterizes the book as an account of Kuzichkin's relationship with his MI6 handler during the period of Iran's revolution, situating the defection within the broader context of Cold War intelligence operations involving Soviet and British agencies operating in Iran.
The Guardian's review praises the work as "superbly wrought," though it does not provide additional details regarding the book's publication date, length, or further plot specifics beyond the opening episode described.
Sources
- Redwood by Ben Macintyre review – a superbly wrought tale of cold war defection — The Guardian — Culture
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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