About this title: Thomas offers a complete and up-to-date history of the famed, mysterious M15 and M16 agencies--Britain's Security and Secret Intelligence Services--and the intrigue-filled world of international espionage.
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Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Date Published: 2009-03-03
ISBN-13:9780312379988ISBN:0312379986
Description: NEW. Hardcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780312379988. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780312379988ISBN:0312379986
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Edition: 1st edition
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: St Martins Pr
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780312379988ISBN:0312379986
Description: New. Thomas offers a complete and up-to-date history of the famed, mysterious M15 and M16 agencies--Britain's Security and Secret Intelligence Services--and the intrigue-filled world of international espionage. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: St Martins Press, New York
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780312379988ISBN:0312379986
Description: Very Good in Very Good jacket. 8vo. pp. xvii 430. "All told, this is the story of two agencies led by men---and women---who are enigmatic, eccentric, and controversial, and who ruthlessly control their spies. Based on prodigious research and interviews with significant players from inside the British intelligence community, this is a rich and even delicious history packed with intrigue and information that only the author could have attained. " read more
"Some have declared this to be a "history" of Britain's spy agencies, which is a bit much for such a poorly organized book. Not only does Thomas fail to follow a chronological narrative (some history!), he doesn't even stick with MI5 & MI6! There are long sequences about the CIA, as well as chapters on Mossad and South Africa's germ warfare program. And, despite his claims to access to newly discovered information, most of this book covers ground from the Cold War and War on Terror that you could have learned elsewhere. There's very little in here about the agencies' founding or their performance in WW1 and WW2. Thomas doesn't even make much of an effort to differentiate between MI5 & MI6, although the British often don't either (the Brits don't maintain the tortured division between their domestic and foreign intelligence agencies, as is the case with the CIA and FBI). Organizationally, the book is a mess
Still, Thomas does give the reader plenty of fun information, despite his chaotic presentation. Intelligence agencies often take on the characteristics of their nations and Britain's are no different. MI5 & MI6 are discrete and clubby organizations, smaller than you would expect, but still able to exercise an outsize influence. (By contrast, the CIA is a big loudmouthed ego that can't keep secrets and survives on a combination of money, technology, and its status as a superpower. Lose any one of those, and we're in trouble). And, they aren't afraid to perform the odd assassination or seduction in order to accomplish their mission: protection of The Realm."
"Wow'zers. Read, read, and read again. A page flipper in non-fiction --> the facts behind MI5, MI6, the CIA, Mossad, etc operations (world intelligence agencies). Gordon describes the very disturbing details of past and Present coverups & assassinations. There is so much detail in this book it took me three months to read. I was immersed and I highly recommend it. Regarding the current world state of intelligence affairs (i.e. how good is the CIA now compared to China's intelligence agency or the Iran situation), this book was released at the end of 2008, so it is very much up-to-date.
An intelligent and worthwhile read to expand ones knowledge on the past and present intelligence communities."
"This book was an excellent overview of the Secret Services in Britain, the U.S. and to a lesser extent Israel. Clear and concise, the author was unbiased as a human being can be, the report factual instead of emotionally or politically charged. Definitely worth the read."
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