Anthony Blunt's Memoir Goes Public

25 years after the death of the former Cambridge professor and renowned art historian who was unmasked publicly as a spy by former prime minister Margaret Thatcher in 1979, the British Library unveiled yesterday a 30,000-word manuscript that amounts to a short account of his life, from birth through to the moment of his unmasking.

Following his death in 1983, the memoir was anonymously donated to the British Library on condition that it not be made available for 25 years, a restriction that has now expired. However, the manuscript can only be seen by registered Readers through the Manuscripts Reading Room, one person at the time. Furthermore the copyright status of the document is unknown which means that it cannot be reproduced.

Find out more:
- Blunt reveals a spy's life from beyond the grave, Reuters
- Anthony Blunt memoir reveals spy's regret at 'the biggest mistake of my life', the Guardian
- Blunt’s memoir is a sorry tale of regret, but not remorse, Timesonline
- Anthony Blunt memoir becomes available in British Library Reading Rooms - Press release, British Library