![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV6W-743ZkM-0Rz7mp4zWCqZofDOvWFWWB_Bk_hTJXIxabSOsopbjfPkH1wAlgnYDIMrIl_vGqnfFcnz5T_qD2yZGSuvUf5CBgXInCTTgNuCSySm8rXv0QLuNuTXfS4yO3IAsOBv4a9o/s320/FromRussia1959.jpg)
People who have read the James Bond novels will be familiar with an organisation known as SMERSH-Death to Spies. What they might not know is that this was a real branch of the Soviet Secret Service, once headed by the notorious Viktor Abakumov. It only had a short three-year existence, from 1943 to 1946, though it clearly left an abiding impression on the mind of Ian Fleming. Anyone who comes away from a reading of From Russia with Love without pleasant and cosy feelings towards General Franco's Fascists clearly has not understood the latent message!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVuL_zgCi4U
ReplyDeleteI've just noticed the particular publisher in the photo....well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adam. :-)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't resist.
ReplyDelete