(Reviewed by Ila Bullinger)
Who was Donald Mclean? The son of a parliament member born to class in Marylebone, London in 1913. He was privileged, educated, handsome and charismatic.
So why did he become a spy?
Could you be persuaded to betray your country, lie to everyone you know, live a lie? No one had to persuade Donald Mclean. Did he do it because he enjoyed deceit and duplicity? Was he blackmailed in the 1930’s for his closeted homosexuality? Was he hungry for power or money? No. Donald Mclean was zealous for Marxism and believed he was correct to keep a balance of power between East and West. He helped Russia acquire nuclear weapons while knowing the methods and temperament of Joseph Stalin.
I enjoyed reading A Divided Life by Robert Cecil. With so many people flirting with the idea of communism, it is wise to look back. One could be a member of the bourgeoisie and still work tirelessly for the cause of the proletariat class. One might ask if communism today could be more successful with a less tyrannical leader? Or is communism doomed to forever be Utopian and unrealistic, at odds with human nature. I did not find the answer to these questions in A Divided Life but I now understand the history of the Cold War a little better after reading about this fascinating character and the role he played in history.
Readers who enjoy history, World War II narratives, and spy novels will enjoy this book.
