Egon Erwin Kisch wasn't just any reporter; he was 'The Raging Reporter,' famous for chasing down stories with relentless energy. In this book, he turns that energy on one of the pre-WWI era's biggest scandals: the fall of Colonel Alfred Redl.

The Story

In the spring of 1913, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's military counter-intelligence makes a chilling discovery. Someone at the very top is a traitor, selling battle plans and secret codes to Imperial Russia. The trail leads directly to Colonel Alfred Redl, the respected head of the Empire's own intelligence service. The revelation is catastrophic. Redl is confronted and, given a pistol, takes his own life. The official story is tidied up fast, but Kisch isn't satisfied. He pieces together the investigation, revealing how Redl's double life—fueled by debt and a taste for luxury—went unchecked for years, and how the high command was more eager to cover up its own embarrassment than understand the full damage.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a dry history lesson. Kisch writes with the pace and tension of a detective novel. You feel him pulling at threads the authorities wanted buried. What gets me is the human drama at the center. Redl isn't just a villain; he's a deeply conflicted man, a product of a rigid system he ultimately betrayed. The book makes you ask: how could this happen? It exposes the arrogance and incompetence of an old-world elite sleepwalking toward disaster. Just a year after Redl's death, the secrets he sold would help shape the battlefields of World War I.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves true crime, espionage thrillers, or fascinating slices of history. If you enjoyed the tension of 'The Spy Who Came In from the Cold' but prefer real-world stakes, this is your next read. Kisch delivers a gripping, character-driven narrative that proves the most shocking conspiracies aren't invented—they're just waiting for the right reporter to uncover them.