- Hardcover: 688 pages
- Publisher: HarperPress; First edition edition (10 Jun 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007278470
- ISBN-13: 978-0007278473
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.8 x 5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 155,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Praise for ‘The Hidden Hand: Britain, America and Cold War Secret Intelligence’:
‘Rivetting, and essential reading not only for intelligence specialists but for everyone interested in the Cold War and in British-American relations.’ Christopher Andrew
‘A triumph of assiduous research and cogent analysis.’ Sunday Telegraph
‘Aldrich's meticulously factual account of British and American spookery…is hugely impressive.’ John Booth, Tribune
‘A truly brilliant book…this is intelligence for adults, and all the more enthralling for it.’ George Walden, Evening Standard
Review
Praise for 'The Hidden Hand: Britain, America and Cold War Secret Intelligence': 'Rivetting, and essential reading not only for intelligence specialists but for everyone interested in the Cold War and in British-American relations.' Christopher Andrew 'A triumph of assiduous research and cogent analysis.' Sunday Telegraph 'Aldrich's meticulously factual account of British and American spookery!is hugely impressive.' John Booth, Tribune 'A truly brilliant book!this is intelligence for adults, and all the more enthralling for it.' George Walden, Evening Standard
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The great thing about this book is that it isn't a sensationalist revelation from an ex. member of the intelligence services, but a research based book using open sources. The line 'there are no secrets, just lazy researchers' is very apt.
The information about some of the big stories of the last century are fascinating - the General Belgrano where SIGINT had picked up a command for it to proceed to task force and sink British ships, and its zig zag course meant that it was true when the Argentinians said it was outside exclusion zone, and sailing away from Falkland islands at the time it was hit. There was no other real decision for the British commanders to take.
As someone who lives in Cheltenham, it is great to see some of the big episodes of GCHQ, and also the relationship with the US.
First class book and to be recommended for anyone with an interest in this area!
The information about some of the big stories of the last century are fascinating - the General Belgrano where SIGINT had picked up a command for it to proceed to task force and sink British ships, and its zig zag course meant that it was true when the Argentinians said it was outside exclusion zone, and sailing away from Falkland islands at the time it was hit. There was no other real decision for the British commanders to take.
As someone who lives in Cheltenham, it is great to see some of the big episodes of GCHQ, and also the relationship with the US.
First class book and to be recommended for anyone with an interest in this area!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a readable and factual book, which contains a series of accounts of episodes in the history of GCHQ and its associated organisations. The first chapters are a little slow, reading as a list or organisational changes, and I was surprised there were not more pages on the work at Bletchley Park in the Second World War. However, the sections on the Cold War, the Falklands and more recent events are gripping.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
GCHQ, by Richard J Aldrich
Like most former employees of GCHQ, I did not have much idea of what went on outside my particular section. To satisfy my curiosity I have read all three recently published volumes on this notorious establishment, of which this, as a serious history, is the most weighty. That such a detailed account was needed is undeniable, considering the major contribution to our national survival made by this band of dedicated codebreakers, as we now know them to be, coupled with its reputation as "The last British secret".
Every significant event in its development is charted, from its beginnings in 1919 as the Government Code and Cypher School, through the years of the second world war when a massively expanded team at Bletchley Park cracked the Nazi Enigma code, to modern times when the former business of monitoring foreign states has to a large degree been overtaken by the need to combat terrorism and international crime.
The extent to which information derived by GCHQ has played a part in international happenings will be a revelation to many. It is plain that in the modern world this country still needs effective monitoring, or Sigint as it is known, to protect its interests. However not all will approve the way in which the emphasis is now on recording details of all electronic communications, and of the individual citizens who send and receive them, enabled by astronomical computing power. There are moral questions here, as well as our willingness to devote serious resources to acquiring the technology, much of which already exists. In this respect it is fortunate that the British have long enjoyed a policy of sharing Sigint with the United States, and it could well be that we will ultimately be dependent on it.
Like most former employees of GCHQ, I did not have much idea of what went on outside my particular section. To satisfy my curiosity I have read all three recently published volumes on this notorious establishment, of which this, as a serious history, is the most weighty. That such a detailed account was needed is undeniable, considering the major contribution to our national survival made by this band of dedicated codebreakers, as we now know them to be, coupled with its reputation as "The last British secret".
Every significant event in its development is charted, from its beginnings in 1919 as the Government Code and Cypher School, through the years of the second world war when a massively expanded team at Bletchley Park cracked the Nazi Enigma code, to modern times when the former business of monitoring foreign states has to a large degree been overtaken by the need to combat terrorism and international crime.
The extent to which information derived by GCHQ has played a part in international happenings will be a revelation to many. It is plain that in the modern world this country still needs effective monitoring, or Sigint as it is known, to protect its interests. However not all will approve the way in which the emphasis is now on recording details of all electronic communications, and of the individual citizens who send and receive them, enabled by astronomical computing power. There are moral questions here, as well as our willingness to devote serious resources to acquiring the technology, much of which already exists. In this respect it is fortunate that the British have long enjoyed a policy of sharing Sigint with the United States, and it could well be that we will ultimately be dependent on it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Heavy going - but well worth it
As others have said, this is definitely not a casual read. It's a top-notch scholarly work that took me nearly three months to get through. However, I can highly recommend it. Read more
Published 3 days ago by MacAvity
Absoluely Briliant
THis is an absolutely briliant read Whether or not you are interested in history, news, feel annoyed at being led by the nose when the UK attacked Iraq, journalists hacking... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rosie of Ellida
A very educating and enthralling read
Very well written, easy to follow and, as someone else said, a book that is difficult to put down. Having an interest in this subject I was aware of some of the content but I have... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Webb
good book
Just bought it for my husband a a present. He thinks it is very interesting and that others should read it.
Published 4 months ago by nondipoo
Fascinating insight
Comprehensive and detailed history of one of the most secret government organisations. Meticulously researched and particularly good on the early history of sigint, inter-service... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Olly
Brilliant Service
Book arrived extremely quickly and in perfect condition, especially pleasing as it is meant as a gift. Would recommend this supplier.
Published 8 months ago by Happy Gran
GCHQ
Delivery very rapid and book received in good condition. Have only dipped into it so far but should be very interesting as I was involved at the sharp end of intercept work during... Read more
Published 8 months ago by souslebois
Aldrich does it again!
Professor Aldrich has -again- written a superb book, this time on signals intelligence, covering roughly more than 90 years of this dark trade. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Paul Gelman
Absolutely Fascinating
Like most people, I suspect, I was aware of GCHQ but before reading this absorbing account, had little idea of its remit. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Simon Welch
A must read for those interested in Intelligence
For those who follow the workings of the UK 'listening' intelligence then this is a must buy. Without doubt the most informative book to date on the workings of GCHQ and those... Read more
Published 12 months ago by P. Waller
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