Chapter 1 Flight Summary and Analysis

The book opens with Chambers saying he began his break with communism in 1937. This is not the same thing as breaking with the Communist Party, which he describes as an organization. His break with the Party takes place in April,1938 and causes him, his wife, and two children to go into hiding. Chambers is involved in espionage at the time of the break. His superior is Colonel Boris Bykov of the Red Army military intelligence; but Chambers only knows him as Peter. Chambers, himself, is known as "Bob" and in Washington as "Carl". Chambers isn't the only one in Washington involved in espionage on the part of the Soviets. There were contacts and active sources in the State Department, the Treasury Department, the Bureau of Standards and the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The highest-level active source is Alger Hiss, who...