| Publisher | The Borough Press |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 31 March 2022 |
| ISBN-10 | 0008466378 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0008466374 |
| Format | hardcover |
| Pages | 384 |
| Price | £ 14.99 |
Edith and Kim
by
Charlotte Philby gives a fictional dressing to the real lives of her grandfather Kim Philby, and Edith Tudor-Hart, who recruited him to spy for Russia.
Review
Kim Philby, grandfather of author Charlotte Philby, makes occasional brief appearances in this book, although we do hear from him directly in his (fictional) letters written from Moscow to Edith Tudor-Hart, nee Suschitzky. These letters are chatty, mainly observations on the weather, personal circumstances or occasionally on the politics of the day. No direct reference is made to the cause that they both served.
In contrast to these glimpses of the famous spy, the narrative follows the less well-known Edith in detail. Edith was the daughter of a bookseller in Vienna, and it is evident that from a young age she found the right-wing tendencies of 1920s Austria repugnant and was naturally drawn to the communist cause. A brief period of imprisonment would no doubt have been followed by worse if in the early 1930s she was not able to move to London, by marrying Alexander Tudor-Hart.
Although the marriage ended after a few years, Edith remained in London, working for the Russians by passing messages, hosting fellow communists and being otherwise of service. One particular matter highlighted is the introduction of Philby to Arnold Deutsch, who became Philby’s handler. Edith had various friends and relatives in London, although later became estranged, partly due to her son who had severe psychiatric problems.
Edith’s work for the Russians was compromised by her overt support for the communist cause, and the story is interrupted by genuine pages from police or Home Office files reporting on Edith and her contacts. These very much carry the flavour of the time, an amateurish organisation and, in comparison with what Edith had faced in Austria, slow to act. Edith was aware of the watchers, however, who represented a heavy strain that inevitably took its toll.
Those who take a particular interest in Philby and the other Cambridge spies will find the book offers the occasional connection, but the power of the story really lies in the portrait of Edith, who comes across as a self-possessed woman, assured in her beliefs and capable of living for decades under considerable strain. She took lovers but was never dependent on any one man. Edith made her living as a photographer and in different circumstances might have been better known for her abilities in that regard.
The story is told in the present tense and makes jumps in time, portraying Edith mainly through dialogue and observations of interactions, leaving gaps for the reader to fill from their own imagination. The portrait is a sensitive one and leaves a strong impression. Personally, I could not help comparing Kim’s enjoyment of life, before and after his betrayal, with the difficulties and disappointments of Edith’s later years.
In contrast to these glimpses of the famous spy, the narrative follows the less well-known Edith in detail. Edith was the daughter of a bookseller in Vienna, and it is evident that from a young age she found the right-wing tendencies of 1920s Austria repugnant and was naturally drawn to the communist cause. A brief period of imprisonment would no doubt have been followed by worse if in the early 1930s she was not able to move to London, by marrying Alexander Tudor-Hart.
Although the marriage ended after a few years, Edith remained in London, working for the Russians by passing messages, hosting fellow communists and being otherwise of service. One particular matter highlighted is the introduction of Philby to Arnold Deutsch, who became Philby’s handler. Edith had various friends and relatives in London, although later became estranged, partly due to her son who had severe psychiatric problems.
Edith’s work for the Russians was compromised by her overt support for the communist cause, and the story is interrupted by genuine pages from police or Home Office files reporting on Edith and her contacts. These very much carry the flavour of the time, an amateurish organisation and, in comparison with what Edith had faced in Austria, slow to act. Edith was aware of the watchers, however, who represented a heavy strain that inevitably took its toll.
Those who take a particular interest in Philby and the other Cambridge spies will find the book offers the occasional connection, but the power of the story really lies in the portrait of Edith, who comes across as a self-possessed woman, assured in her beliefs and capable of living for decades under considerable strain. She took lovers but was never dependent on any one man. Edith made her living as a photographer and in different circumstances might have been better known for her abilities in that regard.
The story is told in the present tense and makes jumps in time, portraying Edith mainly through dialogue and observations of interactions, leaving gaps for the reader to fill from their own imagination. The portrait is a sensitive one and leaves a strong impression. Personally, I could not help comparing Kim’s enjoyment of life, before and after his betrayal, with the difficulties and disappointments of Edith’s later years.
Reviewed 30 September 2022 by Chris Roberts
