Highlights

Kim Philby published his memoir "My Silent War" in 1968 from Moscow, where he had defected in 1963.
The book provided Philby's firsthand account of his decades-long espionage activities for Soviet intelligence.
The memoir was approved by the KGB before publication, reflecting Soviet interests in the narrative.
Philby's account was largely self-justifying, presenting his motivations and actions from his own perspective.
The memoir became a significant Cold War historical document offering insight into British-Soviet intelligence operations.

The Controversial Introduction

When Philby published his autobiography from Moscow, Greene provided the introduction. In it, he offered a deeply sympathetic perspective that infuriated his former intelligence colleagues and the British public:

The Rationalization: He famously rationalized Philby's treason by framing it as a matter of personal conscience.
The Quote: Greene questioned standard ideas of loyalty by writing, "He betrayed his country - yes, perhaps he did, but who among us has not committed treason to something or someone more important than a country?"
Higher Morality: He suggested that Philby’s devotion to Communism was, in Philby's own mind, a pursuit of a higher moral truth rather than simple malice.