"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
“Penetrating. . . . Inestimably valuable. . . . Fills in a chapter of history that has been unjustly neglected.”
—"The New York Times Book Review"
“Fascinating and instructive. . . . As complete and thorough as such a history may be and as engrossing as any spy novel.”
—"Los Angeles Times"
“Unprecedented. . . . Weighty, measured and compelling. . . . With this book, the author has done a formidably good job for both the service and the public interest.”
—Max Hastings, "The Sunday Times" (London)
“As gripping as any thriller. . . . Throws new light on an important area of the running of the country, analysing the changing threats to national security over the 100 years and discussing the appropriateness or otherwise of the service’s response. . . . It will be enthusiastically scrutinised by historians, intelligence buffs and conspiracy theorists.”
—Stella Rimington, "Financial Times
"Penetrating. . . . Inestimably valuable. . . . Fills in a chapter of history that has been unjustly neglected."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Fascinating and instructive. . . . As complete and thorough as such a history may be and as engrossing as any spy novel."
--"Los Angeles Times"
"Unprecedented. . . . Weighty, measured and compelling. . . . With this book, the author has done a formidably good job for both the service and the public interest."
--Max Hastings, "The Sunday Times" (London)
"As gripping as any thriller. . . . Throws new light on an important area of the running of the country, analysing the changing threats to national security over the 100 years and discussing the appropriateness or otherwise of the service's response. . . . It will be enthusiastically scrutinised by historians, intelligence buffs and conspiracy theorists."
--Stella Rimington, "Financial Times"
"Tantalizing. . . . Meticulous and extensive. . . . This book is unlikely to be surpassed for another 100 years, and until then will be the necessary starting point for anyone who wants to know what, exactly, MI5 is."
--"The Daily Telegraph "(London)
"A tour de force: a dazzlingly detailed account. . . . Andrew [is] remarkably candid."
--"Tulsa World"
"Andrew has demonstrated why he is considered by most of his peers to be the world's leading intelligence scholar. His mastery of sources and ability to write so clearly is second to none."
--"The Raleigh News & Observer"
"Magisterial, authoritative, balanced, readable. . . . MI5 has been well-served by this history and so have future historians, Service staff and the public in general."
--"The Sunday Telegraph" (London)
"[This] book covers everything. . . . It is a striking experiment in openness."
--"Economist"
"Absolutely fascinating. . . . A sweeping and highly readable account of a century of British intelligence."
--"The Washington Times"
"Clearly written, brilliantly organised and extremely readable, not least because of something [Andrew] shares with many of MI5's staff over the past hundred years--a sense of humour."
--"The Times" (London)
"There are plenty of fresh details about celebrated events, behind-the-scenes tidbits about successes and foibles, and dish about infamous people. . . . It's crack for history and spy agency addicts."
--Gerald Posner, "The Daily Beast"
"A ripping read and just the kind of work one would hope for from a well-qualified academic who has been given the run of MI5's treasure-trove of files."
--"The""Guardian "(London)
"Definitive and fascinating. Definitive because, after decades of ill-informed or partial accounts this book fully defines and describes its subject; no future writer can ignore it. Fascinating because the fluent clarity of Andrew's narrative, his eye for colourful individual detail and the sheer interest of his subjects. . . . This book is essential reading for anyone with even the slightest interest in intelligence in the modern period."
--"The Spectator"
"Andrew is an entertaining and authoritative guide through the labyrinth of secret files, with an infectious fascination for the game of counter-espionage. . . . An important part of Andrew's achievement is to narrate with clarity an incredibly complex story in which bizarre and improbable reality often outruns the most rococo fabrications of the spy novelist."
--"The Observer "(London)
"Brimming with some wonderful details. . . . A valuable and important contribution to our understanding of the 20th century."
--"The Independent" (London)
Penetrating. . . . Inestimably valuable. . . . Fills in a chapter of history that has been unjustly neglected.
"The New York Times Book Review"
Fascinating and instructive. . . . As complete and thorough as such a history may be and as engrossing as any spy novel.
"Los Angeles Times"
Unprecedented. . . . Weighty, measured and compelling. . . . With this book, the author has done a formidably good job for both the service and the public interest.
Max Hastings, "The Sunday Times" (London)
As gripping as any thriller. . . . Throws new light on an important area of the running of the country, analysing the changing threats to national security over the 100 years and discussing the appropriateness or otherwise of the service s response. . . . It will be enthusiastically scrutinised by historians, intelligence buffs and conspiracy theorists.
Stella Rimington, "Financial Times"
Tantalizing. . . . Meticulous and extensive. . . . This book is unlikely to be surpassed for another 100 years, and until then will be the necessary starting point for anyone who wants to know what, exactly, MI5 is.
"The Daily Telegraph "(London)
A tour de force: a dazzlingly detailed account. . . . Andrew [is] remarkably candid.
"Tulsa World"
Andrew has demonstrated why he is considered by most of his peers to be the world s leading intelligence scholar. His mastery of sources and ability to write so clearly is second to none.
"The Raleigh News & Observer"
Magisterial, authoritative, balanced, readable. . . . MI5 has been well-served by this history and so have future historians, Service staff and the public in general.
"The Sunday Telegraph" (London)
[This] book covers everything. . . . It is a striking experiment in openness.
"Economist"
Absolutely fascinating. . . . A sweeping and highly readable account of a century of British intelligence.
"The Washington Times"
Clearly written, brilliantly organised and extremely readable, not least because of something [Andrew] shares with many of MI5 s staff over the past hundred years a sense of humour.
"The Times" (London)
There are plenty of fresh details about celebrated events, behind-the-scenes tidbits about successes and foibles, and dish about infamous people. . . . It s crack for history and spy agency addicts.
Gerald Posner, "The Daily Beast"
A ripping read and just the kind of work one would hope for from a well-qualified academic who has been given the run of MI5 s treasure-trove of files.
"The" "Guardian "(London)
Definitive and fascinating. Definitive because, after decades of ill-informed or partial accounts this book fully defines and describes its subject; no future writer can ignore it. Fascinating because the fluent clarity of Andrew s narrative, his eye for colourful individual detail and the sheer interest of his subjects. . . . This book is essential reading for anyone with even the slightest interest in intelligence in the modern period.
"The Spectator"
Andrew is an entertaining and authoritative guide through the labyrinth of secret files, with an infectious fascination for the game of counter-espionage. . . . An important part of Andrew s achievement is to narrate with clarity an incredibly complex story in which bizarre and improbable reality often outruns the most rococo fabrications of the spy novelist.
"The Observer "(London)
Brimming with some wonderful details. . . . A valuable and important contribution to our understanding of the 20th century.
"The Independent" (London)"
Penetrating. . . . Inestimably valuable. . . . Fills in a chapter of history that has been unjustly neglected.
The New York Times Book Review
Fascinating and instructive. . . . As complete and thorough as such a history may be and as engrossing as any spy novel.
Los Angeles Times
Unprecedented. . . . Weighty, measured and compelling. . . . With this book, the author has done a formidably good job for both the service and the public interest.
Max Hastings, The Sunday Times (London)
As gripping as any thriller. . . . Throws new light on an important area of the running of the country, analysing the changing threats to national security over the 100 years and discussing the appropriateness or otherwise of the service s response. . . . It will be enthusiastically scrutinised by historians, intelligence buffs and conspiracy theorists.
Stella Rimington, Financial Times
Tantalizing. . . . Meticulous and extensive. . . . This book is unlikely to be surpassed for another 100 years, and until then will be the necessary starting point for anyone who wants to know what, exactly, MI5 is.
The Daily Telegraph (London)
A tour de force: a dazzlingly detailed account. . . . Andrew [is] remarkably candid.
Tulsa World
Andrew has demonstrated why he is considered by most of his peers to be the world s leading intelligence scholar. His mastery of sources and ability to write so clearly is second to none.
The Raleigh News & Observer
Magisterial, authoritative, balanced, readable. . . . MI5 has been well-served by this history and so have future historians, Service staff and the public in general.
The Sunday Telegraph (London)
[This] book covers everything. . . . It is a striking experiment in openness.
Economist
Absolutely fascinating. . . . A sweeping and highly readable account of a century of British intelligence.
The Washington Times
Clearly written, brilliantly organised and extremely readable, not least because of something [Andrew] shares with many of MI5 s staff over the past hundred years a sense of humour.
The Times (London)
There are plenty of fresh details about celebrated events, behind-the-scenes tidbits about successes and foibles, and dish about infamous people. . . . It s crack for history and spy agency addicts.
Gerald Posner, The Daily Beast
A ripping read and just the kind of work one would hope for from a well-qualified academic who has been given the run of MI5 s treasure-trove of files.
The Guardian (London)
Definitive and fascinating. Definitive because, after decades of ill-informed or partial accounts this book fully defines and describes its subject; no future writer can ignore it. Fascinating because the fluent clarity of Andrew s narrative, his eye for colourful individual detail and the sheer interest of his subjects. . . . This book is essential reading for anyone with even the slightest interest in intelligence in the modern period.
The Spectator
Andrew is an entertaining and authoritative guide through the labyrinth of secret files, with an infectious fascination for the game of counter-espionage. . . . An important part of Andrew s achievement is to narrate with clarity an incredibly complex story in which bizarre and improbable reality often outruns the most rococo fabrications of the spy novelist.
The Observer (London)
Brimming with some wonderful details. . . . A valuable and important contribution to our understanding of the 20th century.
The Independent (London)
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
£ 3.91
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. First Edition; First Printing. This specific hardback book is in new condition with a hard board cover that has sharp edges and corners and has a tight binding. The pages are clean, crisp, unmarked and uncreased. The dust jacket is in fine condition with barely detectable wear if any. We package all books in custom cardboard book boxes for shipment and ship daily with tracking numbers.; "An unprecedented publishing event: to mark the centenary of its foundation, the British Security Service, MI5, has for the first time opened its archives to an independent historian. The book reveals the precise role of the Security Service in twentieth-century British history, from its foundation by Captain Kell of the British Army in October 1909, through two world wars, up to and including its present roles in counterespionage and counterterrorism. The book describes how MI5 has been managed, what its relationship has been with government, where it has triumphed, and where it has failed."; 9.2 X 6.7 X 2.3 inches; 1056 pages. Seller Inventory # 19182
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. This is a hardcover book with a dust jacket. Seller Inventory # mon0000011300
Book Description Condition: New. Book is in NEW condition. 3.3. Seller Inventory # 0307263630-2-1
Book Description Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published 3.3. Seller Inventory # 353-0307263630-new
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Brand New!. Seller Inventory # VIB0307263630
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. First Edition. An unprecedented publishing event: to mark the centenary of its foundation, the British Security Service, MI5, has for the first time opened its archives to an independent historian. The book reveals the precise role of the Security Service in twentieth-century British history, from its foundation by Captain Kell of the British Army in October 1909, through two world wars, up to and including its present roles in counterespionage and counterterrorism. The book describes how MI5 has been managed, what its relationship has been with government, where it has triumphed, and where it has failed. In all of this no restriction has been placed on the judgments made by the author.Defend the Realm also adds significantly to our knowledge of many celebrated events and notorious individuals and definitively lays to rest a number of persistent myths.Above all, it shows the place of this previously extremely secretive organization within the United Kingdom. Few books could make such an immediate and extraordinary increase to our understanding of British history over the past century. Seller Inventory # DADAX0307263630
Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # newMercantile_0307263630
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0307263630
Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # FrontCover0307263630
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Seller Inventory # Wizard0307263630