Fate conspired to bring Reilly back to Russia on an important mission that was misjudged by the British Secret Service and himself to involve only minimal personal risk. They both believed that the plan if successful could neutralize The Trust (later determined to be a Cheka "false flag" operation) and also provide them with the opportunity to further weaken and discredit Russia's Bolshevik government now led by Josef Stalin. But destiny intruded when Stalin unexpectedly ordered Reilly's capture and imprisonment for a capital crime he allegedly committed in 1918 at the height of the Russian Revolution. These events marked the beginning of the end of Reilly's long career as England's "Ace of Spies."
Although never proved, this episode indicates that Reilly was tortured in an effort to determine all the details of his planned visit. At the same time, the Russians released a cover story alleging that Reilly had died in a border skirmish when he attempted to enter the country illegally. The British did not believe the Russian story to be true, but they were unable to formulate a united plan for a rescue attempt. Ironically, Reilly's scheme actually proved to be partially successful when Stalin's decision to liquidate The Trust backfired into the loss of many Bolshevik agents worldwide and the shutdown of one of the most successful counterespionage operations in history.
In this episode, Reilly seems to be matched in importance by the actual historical.events swirling about him. The looming issue regarding how the Russians would finally resolve the "Reilly question" provides the most intriguing plot element in the episode---as Stalin and Dzherzhinsky (head of Cheka) had very different ideas about the matter. Stalin wanted him executed, but Dzherzhinsky thought that Reilly would have considerable value as an ongoing intelligence source. This battle of wills could only be reimagined by the series's writers, as there appears to be no evidence that survived to support its ultimate resolution.
The Reilly series is valuable as a sometimes inaccurate but always interesting history lesson about a significant yet little-known character from the Russian Revolution period. Reilly was charming, charismatic and entertaining. There is little doubt that he formed the basis for Ian Fleming's famous dashing hero James Bond. He also seemed to invent "from scratch" the job description for a British master spy. His life was at the center of major world events for a quarter century, and he appeared to thrive on danger and death-defying activity. It is an astonishing story that was told with great style, wit and detail. If at times some incidents in the narrative seem too hard to believe as true, the actual documented details of Reilly's life ought to provide us with the motivation to give.matter further consideration. Highly recommended.
Although never proved, this episode indicates that Reilly was tortured in an effort to determine all the details of his planned visit. At the same time, the Russians released a cover story alleging that Reilly had died in a border skirmish when he attempted to enter the country illegally. The British did not believe the Russian story to be true, but they were unable to formulate a united plan for a rescue attempt. Ironically, Reilly's scheme actually proved to be partially successful when Stalin's decision to liquidate The Trust backfired into the loss of many Bolshevik agents worldwide and the shutdown of one of the most successful counterespionage operations in history.
In this episode, Reilly seems to be matched in importance by the actual historical.events swirling about him. The looming issue regarding how the Russians would finally resolve the "Reilly question" provides the most intriguing plot element in the episode---as Stalin and Dzherzhinsky (head of Cheka) had very different ideas about the matter. Stalin wanted him executed, but Dzherzhinsky thought that Reilly would have considerable value as an ongoing intelligence source. This battle of wills could only be reimagined by the series's writers, as there appears to be no evidence that survived to support its ultimate resolution.
The Reilly series is valuable as a sometimes inaccurate but always interesting history lesson about a significant yet little-known character from the Russian Revolution period. Reilly was charming, charismatic and entertaining. There is little doubt that he formed the basis for Ian Fleming's famous dashing hero James Bond. He also seemed to invent "from scratch" the job description for a British master spy. His life was at the center of major world events for a quarter century, and he appeared to thrive on danger and death-defying activity. It is an astonishing story that was told with great style, wit and detail. If at times some incidents in the narrative seem too hard to believe as true, the actual documented details of Reilly's life ought to provide us with the motivation to give.matter further consideration. Highly recommended.