Listen online - 'The Soviet James Bond' on BBC Radio 4

Programme: 'The Soviet James Bond'
Channel: BBC Radio 4 (UK)
Date: Thursday 18th December 2014
Time: 11:30

Click here to listen online (BBC iPlayer)

In the depths of the Cold War, the Soviets had their own version of James Bond, a superspy whose adventures thrilled readers from Minsk to the Urals. But whereas Bond enjoyed champagne, gambling and beautiful women, the spy codenamed Stierlitz was a Russian patriot of austere tastes (though he does enjoy vodka and singing Russian songs).

In novels like "Diamonds for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat," Stierlitz carved a parallel path to that being followed by the great 007. Spy fan Miles Jupp explores the extraordinary legacy of the Soviet James Bond and his creator Julian Semyonov.

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