A groundbreaking book, this unprecedented study is the authoritative account of the best-known intelligence organization in the world. Essential reading for anyone interested in the history of espionage, the two world wars, modern British government and the conduct of international relations in the first half of the twentieth century, "MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949" is a uniquely important examination of the role and significance of intelligence in the modern world.
MI6
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'Judicious and fluently written history...a fascinating insight into a hidden world, an impressive work of scholarship with terrific photos' --Andrew Lownie, Sunday Telegraph, 26/09/10
`A very fine book...full of episode and personality' --Peter Hennessy, Daily Telegraph, 25/09/10
'A magisterial account of the two wars in particular, viewed via the prism of secret intelligence. Winningly, it also entertains.' --Mark Sellek, Independent on Sunday, 26/09/10
`Jeffery's monograph is extremely valuable... a realistic picture of a splendid British institution' --Oleg Gordievsky, The Times, 25/09/10
`Fascinating...the book is full of examples of the ingenuity and courage shown by all ranks.'
--Douglas Hurd, Guardian, 02/10/10
`A very fine book...full of episode and personality' --Peter Hennessy, Daily Telegraph, 25/09/10
'A magisterial account of the two wars in particular, viewed via the prism of secret intelligence. Winningly, it also entertains.' --Mark Sellek, Independent on Sunday, 26/09/10
`Jeffery's monograph is extremely valuable... a realistic picture of a splendid British institution' --Oleg Gordievsky, The Times, 25/09/10
`Fascinating...the book is full of examples of the ingenuity and courage shown by all ranks.'
--Douglas Hurd, Guardian, 02/10/10
Book Description
The first - and only - history of the Secret Intelligence Service,
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
written with full and unrestricted access to the closed archives of the
Service for the period 1909-1949.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By John Middleton
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
If war is just the continuation of politics by other means, what is the role of a secret intelligence service, and how does it change in times of declared and undeclared war? That's the question being asked - and mostly answered - by this history of MI6 during WWI, WWII, and the Cold War against Communism, which includes the period 1919-41 as well as post-WWII.
We get here an in-depth look at the heads of the Service, and its role in peace and war: from Boche to Bolsheviks is the title of one chapter, and it might as well have titled the whole book, really, if Jeffrey was trying to write a catchy story rather than an authorised history. There are lots of interesting vignettes here, but little on what you might be looking for - the Cambridge 5, the man who never was, etc: often because this was done by organisations other than MI6. The SOE for example were a wartime sabotage force, not an intelligence service.
At times it's a little dry, but there are interesting thoughts on the need for political independence of a secret service which in turn relies on its being nonpartisan. None of this is dross, or mere noise, but if you are looking for a chronicle of wartime adventure or secret operations and assassinations revealed...alas, this is not the book for you. The cover does say, reads like the script of a Bond film, but really its mostly just the bits where Bond meets with M (itself a play on C) that this book represents.
This is a great work, but be aware what it is not before you buy it.
We get here an in-depth look at the heads of the Service, and its role in peace and war: from Boche to Bolsheviks is the title of one chapter, and it might as well have titled the whole book, really, if Jeffrey was trying to write a catchy story rather than an authorised history. There are lots of interesting vignettes here, but little on what you might be looking for - the Cambridge 5, the man who never was, etc: often because this was done by organisations other than MI6. The SOE for example were a wartime sabotage force, not an intelligence service.
At times it's a little dry, but there are interesting thoughts on the need for political independence of a secret service which in turn relies on its being nonpartisan. None of this is dross, or mere noise, but if you are looking for a chronicle of wartime adventure or secret operations and assassinations revealed...alas, this is not the book for you. The cover does say, reads like the script of a Bond film, but really its mostly just the bits where Bond meets with M (itself a play on C) that this book represents.
This is a great work, but be aware what it is not before you buy it.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Like its sister book on MI5 this is as detailed as it can be on such a subject as national security, however it is written in such a manner that it is fairly(!) easy to read. However my recommendation is not to try and read it all at once but to do it in bite-size chunks!! What does come through, as in the MI5 book, is that it is a wonder that we got any intelligence at all in the very early days where 'career' diplomats didn't think it was the done thing to spy on other people - much like those admirals who thought the use of submarines was underhand!! In view of the current fiscal problems it is interesting to note that there were money problems with financing MI6, and MI5, even back then. I have yet to finish the book but my impression so far is that the UK was very lucky to get any information at all in the early days and it was down to a very few people with the foresight to see that such an organisation was needed, both in war and in peace time. Also intriguing were the battles between the various factions to gain control of what would become MI6 - Foreign Office, Navy, Army being the main contestants - which took up a lot of time which could have been used more constructively. The book also shows where possible the courage of those actually gathering intelligence in hostile environments, but also where people were keen to sell information on their own country for cash.
A good informative read which gives some idea of what was/is involved in the gathering of intelligence.
A good informative read which gives some idea of what was/is involved in the gathering of intelligence.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Antaloorian
Format:Hardcover
Quite apart from the content, this is a substantial book, on thick paper. What relevance is this I hear you ask? Well, this: I feel the book is just too thick - it comes in at over 800 pages including index and borders on the unmanagable. This won't be a problem for anyone who just wants to dip into the book for specific information, but if you want to read the complete story as a narrative, then the Kindle version will suit a lot better.
The book itself is well written and tells the story in an easily accessible style. It should come as no surprise that there is a huge amount of detail, and the book will add greatly to what is known about the Secret Intelligence service.
What has cost the book its fifth star though, is the simple fact that it is an "official" history and has therefore been written under the constraints imposed by MI6 and, although Professor Jeffrey was allowed unrestricted access to MI6's archives, he hasn't released all the information he could have, for example in naming agents. In the foreword MI6s policy on releasing information is set out, and should be read by everyone considering buying this book. The fact that the book is an official history also works against it in that other sources of information haven't been given the consderation they should have.
Personally I would also liked to have seen more on the pre-world war 2 side of things - well over half the book is dedicated to the last 10 years of the period it covers.
All in all though it is a worthwhile addition to the field.
The book itself is well written and tells the story in an easily accessible style. It should come as no surprise that there is a huge amount of detail, and the book will add greatly to what is known about the Secret Intelligence service.
What has cost the book its fifth star though, is the simple fact that it is an "official" history and has therefore been written under the constraints imposed by MI6 and, although Professor Jeffrey was allowed unrestricted access to MI6's archives, he hasn't released all the information he could have, for example in naming agents. In the foreword MI6s policy on releasing information is set out, and should be read by everyone considering buying this book. The fact that the book is an official history also works against it in that other sources of information haven't been given the consderation they should have.
Personally I would also liked to have seen more on the pre-world war 2 side of things - well over half the book is dedicated to the last 10 years of the period it covers.
All in all though it is a worthwhile addition to the field.
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hard Going
I found the booked hard going. Its full of facts and fingers but doesn't really have a flowing nattarive that captures you. Disappointing.
Published 6 days ago by Dave
1.0 out of 5 stars
not purchased, not read
have never purchased this book therefore can offer no review regarding it hence the one star. dont know how it has appeared on my list of thngs purchased and if you want to... Read more
Published 2 months ago by df
5.0 out of 5 stars
A necessary book on the history of british secret service
Very accurate, an important tool for historians and students. It's the first necessary step for understanding the history of the British secret service.
Published 2 months ago by M. Giulio
2.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't live up to expectations.
I found the things that were NOT included more interesting than those that were. It also became apparent that the authors views were as one sided as those of MI6' at least in the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Batford
4.0 out of 5 stars
I always wonder what they left out
A monster book at 768 pages long. The world war two part is fascinating, but I alwys wonder with these books, how much they have left out!
Published 7 months ago by Half Man, Half Book
2.0 out of 5 stars
Administrative history
This could be entitled "an administrative history of SIS". The cover blurb compares it to the script for a Bond film but nothing could be further from the truth. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Firepig
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bought as gift
Gift recipient pleased and very much looking forward to reading it, when grandpaternal duties permit. Book was a good solid memento for a 75th birthday.
Published 8 months ago by Mr. John S. Gammon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Absolutely fabulous book - well written and full of relevant information on the secret intelligence services from 1909 to 1949 in an easy to understand format
Published 13 months ago by Emma Forman
4.0 out of 5 stars
The history of the Secret Intelligence Service - more cloaks than...
First I must explain why I have only given this book 4 stars. This is because I bought the Kindle edition and the zoom is ineffective so most of the original documents reproduced... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Ian Andrew
5.0 out of 5 stars
First class read. First class research. Frist class subject.
As many have already commented, this is an excellent history. If only more historians could write like Keith Jeffery. First class.
Published 17 months ago by rodney hedley
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