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Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5
 
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Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5 (Paperback)

by Stella Rimington (Author)
3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd; New edition edition (5 Sep 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0099436728
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099436720
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 19,408 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #12 in  Books > Biography > War & Espionage > Espionage
    #80 in  Books > Biography > Women

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
You have to admire the cheek of Open Secret's author Stella Rimington. After a career spanning 25 years in MI5, during which she was more than happy for the Official Secrets Acts to be used to the government's advantage, she is now outraged that attempts should have been made to block publication of her memoirs and is calling for the act to be reformed. In an extended preface to Open Secret, Rimington writes of her encounter with Cabinet secretary, Sir Richard Wilson, "By the end of an hour or so of being threatened, bullied and cajoled in the more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger way the Establishment behaves to its recalcitrant sons and, as I now know, daughters, I was very shaken". One wonders what else she expected? The thought of any former director-general of MI5 writing his or her memoirs was bound to have disturbed the security services and, compared to many, Rimington got off lightly. But then, whatever else she might think, Rimington is still very much an Establishment woman. She submitted her manuscript for vetting, took out one or two edgy bits, and as she disarmingly points out, there are no revelations about the inner workings of the intelligence services. When she gets to any contentious issues, such as MI5's role in infiltrating CND and breaking the miners' strike, all she has to say is that MI5 never did anything wrong, that that those who say otherwise are conspiracy theorists and that we'll just have to take her word for it because she's right. The portrait that emerges of a bunch of mildly incompetent bureaucrats who wouldn't say boo to a goose does no favours to Rimington or MI5. The books does have its moments, particularly those describing a woman isolated in an almost exclusively male world, but its real significance lies in the fact it was published at all. If the director-general is allowed to go public, there's precious little to stop the MI5 foot soldiers doing likewise. And when they do, the skeletons that Rimington has kept firmly locked in the cupboard might start to come tumbling out. --John Crace --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
The memoirs of the former head of MI5 who worked from 1965 to 1996 in all the main fields of the Service's activities - counter subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism and successively became Director of all three branches.

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Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5
76% buy the item featured on this page:
Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5 3.3 out of 5 stars (14)
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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.3 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as gripping as you may think, 27 Sep 2001
By A Customer
I expected more insight into the workings of MI5 than this book provides. You have to remember when buying this book that this woman has lived a life that is far longer than the time spent in MI5, and well over half of the book is dedicated to that life. Whilst I found it a pleasant read, it wasn't the gripping tale of machinations within MI5 that I'd hoped. I suppose it was only to be expected, as it would never have found it's way to the publishing house if it contained anything meaty about MI5.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars No Secret: Stella Rules, Britannia, 14 Mar 2008
By F. S. L'hoir (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
I purchased this book after hearing an interview with Ms. Rimington on BBC 4, and I must say, I found her engaging both on the radio and in print. She is a talented writer, whose eventful life--from childhood during the blitz, through her days as a diplomatic wife in India; her experiences as an archivist; and her almost accidental career in MI5 [the old-school-tie male bastion which she penetrated with panache]--is related with considerable charm and humor (essential requirements for being an effective spy).

On the back of the book, under a series of rave blurbs is a negative one by an individual of the male persuasion, whose non-endorsement guaranteed my determination to read the book. And I quote: "The most effective Secret Service is the one which is secret. She should shut up."

Well, that horse was stolen from the barn years ago, and the service that once dared not speak its name has long since--thanks to ex-intelligence officers writing their memoirs right and left--become the service that will not shut up!

Stella Rimington, the intelligent woman who made it to the director-generalship of MI5, adds a refreshing perspective to the male-dominated literature of British intelligence.
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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars No hesitation in recommending as a biography, 11 Oct 2002
By Mike (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This is a biography of the woman who ran MI5. It isn't a novel by Tom Clancy and it isn't a full analysis of the structure and methods of the Security Services.

It gives insight into the mind and values of the woman who was very successful within the security services of the 1970's and 1980's. She shows modesty and commitment - rising from part-time Office junior to Head of the Service via hard work and personal sacrifice (especially family relationships and financial).

The book tells us much about English attitudes, the cult of the 'Amateur,' and how many fall by the wayside on the path to the top - lacking commitment or realising that the effort is not justified by the reward.

It will make you question how and why people get to the top in British politics and administration. Americans, in particular, will be stunned by her candour (and poverty)

We need more books like this - real biographies talking about genuine biographical issues as opposed to post-rationalised self-promotion. With more women taking the top roles in Society, let's hope we will get these more honest stories.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Woman's Hour Meets James Bond?
There are, broadly, two types of "secret state" or intelligence and security memoir. The first type contains lots of details of actual operations and of the workings of their... Read more
Published 1 month ago by ianrmillard

2.0 out of 5 stars Too heavily censored for interest

As the book progressed my disappointment grew at the content. I expect autobiographies of high achieving people who think the world revolves around them to fill the first... Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. Hillmann

5.0 out of 5 stars Slow start but very worthwhile
Despite the headline I have given, this book is interesting throughout. The reason I have said it starts slowly is that the first part of the book does not deal with Ms... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr X

1.0 out of 5 stars avoid
I would recommend you purchase 'Spies, Lies and Whistleblowers' instead for a more realistic and earthy view of MI5.
Published 20 months ago by Tre Mendous

3.0 out of 5 stars Less threat-analysis, more biographical
The preface to the paperback edition of Open Secret talks of the challenges the security forces face combatting global terrorism. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2003 by jcurnow

1.0 out of 5 stars Can the controversy really have been all spin and hype?
...I too found this book rather inane. So much of it deals with sexism within MI5, babysitter problems, housing troubles etc, that one neither gets to know the author particularly... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2002 by alnista

4.0 out of 5 stars If you're expecting James Bond - dont bother.
Unlike several reviewers buying this book I didn't expect the inner secrets of MI5 to be revealed.... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2002 by rachellmccann

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read - not much given away
I awaited this book but was a little disappointed. I don't know whether it was to do with the editing or Mrs Rimington's writing style but for an autobiography, interesting... Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2002 by fi_paine@hotmail.com

1.0 out of 5 stars This book really sucks.
This book stinks. The first 150 pages are filled with what she ate for lunch on a particular day, how she lost a hat box, or made brandy snaps and endless banal descriptions of... Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars It is her story not MI5's!!
It was interesting to see some disappointed readers who expected her to reveal all about MI5's workings. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2001 by S. Yogendra

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