- Paperback: 832 pages
- Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); Reprint edition (Sep 27 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0143119990
- ISBN-13: 978-0143119999
- Product Dimensions: 21.5 x 14.2 x 5.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 748 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #167,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Book Description
"Jeffery's book is perhaps the most authentic account one will ever read about how intelligence really works." --The Washington Times
Britain 's Special Intelligence Service, commonly called MI6, is not only the oldest and most storied foreign intelligence unit in the world-it is also the only one to open its archives to an outside researcher. The result, in this authorized history, is an unprecedented and revelatory look at an organization that essentially created, over the course of two world wars, the modern craft of spying. Examining innovations from invisible ink and industrial-scale cryptography to dramatic setbacks like the Nazi sting operations to bag British operatives, this groundbreaking history is as engrossing as any thriller-and much more revealing.
About the Author
Keith Jeffery is a professor of British history at Queen's University, Belfast, and has written or edited thirteen books.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2.8 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
46 of 48 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
License to spy, Oct 12 2010
By wogan "the book reader" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Secret History of MI6 (Hardcover)
Keith Jeffery accepted the task of writing the history of MI-6, the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) from the SIS itself, who wished to "commission an independent and authoritative volume" on the anniversary of their centenary. The history covers the beginnings from 1909, with the worries over an aggressive Germany to 1949. The reason for stopping at 1949 are given in a well written forward and preface - mainly that after that date there are still too many facts that are security sensitive. There are also explanations of how and why the agents and people who have worked for the SIS are protected. Many times only initials are used, and it is admitted that some stories had to be omitted because of the fear of identifying agents.There is a much needed list of abbreviations and what they stand for and a detailed index. There are some illustrations and diagrams throughout the reading and two sections of photographs.
Jeffery says he was given unrestricted access to the archives, however, it has been the practice to destroy huge numbers of documents once their usefulness was up... how that is determined is never explained. This is not a book containing stories of daring and master spy techniques, instead it reads more like a government report; and in many ways that is its' failing. There is only accuracy rather than, also the appeal of and recollection of operations completed. The writing does rise above the drudgery in explaining how agents should work, some accounts of wartime activities and in some incidents, such as the search for invisible ink; but these 752 pages are extremely dry and mainly contain a recitation of who headed the agency, what they and their subordinates did and why; explanations of different reports and the organization of the agency and attempts to combine the agency with other government bureaus. None of the exhilaration of the job or work well done comes through.
The details are fully and firmly about Great Britain, little is mentioned of interactions and cooperation with other countries, other than in the conclusion, where there are 5 or 6 pages about the relationship with the CIA. If there is a comment it usually consists of, "which also involved United States (or whatever country) participation".
Those who wish to learn the bureaucratic details of the SIS- MI6 would indeed enjoy reading through this book.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spy agency, history, Oct 18 2010
By Jorge A. Fragola - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Secret History of MI6 (Hardcover)
Very good book. I've read other books on the subject and I find this one very interesting. However there is one caveat, that it only goes to 1949, therefor leaving what perhaps is one of the most intriguing part of the of the history of MI6. That is of the Cold War and the moles in the service. Also another caveat is that this is "an official story", with a pre-selected author. The author reports that he was given complete access to existing files from that era, but the names an identities were changed when necessary. While this presumably gives accuracy to the book, and it probably does, the reader will never know for sure what kind of 'pressure" was put on an approved author on certain topics. Nevertheless is excellent reading. Compares favorably to S. Power works.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Excruciatingly boring account of bureaucracy and administration, April 5 2011
By Koba - Published on Amazon.com
I have hundreds of books on espionage and intelligence, and I must say I expected more from this one. Indeed, this book was so uninteresting that I had a very hard time finishing it. Even the section on WW2 was dull, and one might even go so far as to say that writing a boring history of MI6 in WW2 is an accomplishment of sorts!As other reviewers have noted, the focus of this book is not what MI6 spies did or how they did it, or even the significance of what they learned, but the history of MI6's bureaucratic organization, as well as its budgetary and personnel struggles, and its feuds with other government departments. You would think that at this point, MI6 would permit more details about actual operations and their impact to emerge, but apparently this is not the case. Thus, all we get are dull administrative minutiae. This book ends in 1949, and if the author produces a subsequent volume covering a later period, I certainly don't plan to purchase it. Do yourself a favor and avoid this one.
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