De Gramont's book is devoted to the rivalry between the intelligence services of the former USSR and NATO member states in the 1940-60s, during the era of the so-called Cold War. The author's focus is on high-profile political scandals, features of intelligence activities, the fate of people involved in the dramatic confrontation of the superpowers of the 20th century by the will of history. The book of undoubted interest is published in Russian for the first time.