Nora Murray

I Spied for Stalin Nora Murray

Now reprinted, this revealing autobiography includes a prologue and epilogue written by two of the author's sons, Leeroy and Peter, who have pieced together more of this poignant love and life story.

Nora's father, as Director General of the Soviet Foreign Office based in Moscow, is purged by Stalin, leaving his young daughter without kith or kin. The State forces her to meet up with diplomats and foreigners to report back with any information on their activities. One of her targets is John Murray, a cypher (code writer/decoder) at the British Embassy in Moscow. However, by falling in love with him she is classified as a traitor, arrested and imprisoned. John achieves her release by Stalin.

In 1939, John and others of the Embassy staff are evacuated when the German army enters Moscow's suburbs. He is sent to Archangel, leaving Nora alone in his John's embassy quarters. With only forged papers, she begins a terrifying 1,000 kilometer journey to the desolate wastes of the Arctic port to bid farewell to John. Instead, they decide to marry; this and their eventual escape to safety and happiness in England shapes a thrilling climax to this true story.