The Great Game: The Myths and Reality of Espionage
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In this riveting insider’s account, a former inspector general of the CIA compares actual espionage cases and practices with classic and popular spy fiction, showing that the real world of espionage is nearly always stranger and more complicated than even the best spy fiction.Exploring everything from tradecraft and recruitment to bureaucracy and betrayal, The Great Game contrasts fictional spies created by such authors as John Le Carr?, Tom Clancy and Joseph Conrad with their real-life counterparts from Kim Philby to Aldrich Ames. Drawing on his thirty year career with the CIA, Frederick P. Hitz shows that even the most imaginative authors fail to capture the profound human dilemmas raised by real-life cases. Engaging and insightful, The Great Game shines a fascinating light on the veiled history of intelligence.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It was required that I read this book as part of my studies, but once I finished it, I found myself rereading parts of it every now and then! It's a great insight into the world of espionage and a strongly recommended read!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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5 reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
An Insider's Introduction....
21 Aug 2008
Format:Paperback
In 2004's "The Great Game", author Frederick Hitz faces the inevitable challenge of every former intelligence officer in discussing his trade: much of what he knows is likely still classified. In preparing a class on intelligence for university students, Hitz chose an interesting way to approach this challenge. He compars our popular view of espionage as presented in novels and film with real-life declassified cases, mostly from the Cold War. The result is a concise, well-written, and fascinating introduction into the intelligence business.
Hitz systematically examines a variety of topics: recruitment, betrayal, bureaucracy, counterintelligence, and a variety of aspects of tradecraft, both human and technical. He enlivens his narrative with fictional examples from a century's worth of spy fiction, from Rudyard Kipling's "Kim" to the latest John LeCarre and Tom Clancy novels. His real life points of comparison include Russians who spied for the US (Popov and Penkovsky) and Americans who spied for the Soviets (Ames and Hanssen). His examples are drawn primarily from American and British spy fiction and actual espionage.
Many of Hitz's more thoughtful insights are those of a Cold War veteran who watched others squeezed by the pressures of double and even triple lives, or were undermined by doubts in their respective causes. He knowledges that much of espionage can be redundant or futile, but he is quick to note that good intelligence is often essential to national survival. His closing chapters address the new and different challenge of fanatical non-nation state threats like al-Qaeda.
"The Great Game" is highly recommended as an accessible introduction to the intelligence business.
Hitz systematically examines a variety of topics: recruitment, betrayal, bureaucracy, counterintelligence, and a variety of aspects of tradecraft, both human and technical. He enlivens his narrative with fictional examples from a century's worth of spy fiction, from Rudyard Kipling's "Kim" to the latest John LeCarre and Tom Clancy novels. His real life points of comparison include Russians who spied for the US (Popov and Penkovsky) and Americans who spied for the Soviets (Ames and Hanssen). His examples are drawn primarily from American and British spy fiction and actual espionage.
Many of Hitz's more thoughtful insights are those of a Cold War veteran who watched others squeezed by the pressures of double and even triple lives, or were undermined by doubts in their respective causes. He knowledges that much of espionage can be redundant or futile, but he is quick to note that good intelligence is often essential to national survival. His closing chapters address the new and different challenge of fanatical non-nation state threats like al-Qaeda.
"The Great Game" is highly recommended as an accessible introduction to the intelligence business.
A Decent Intro to the World of Espionage
27 May 2012
Format:Paperback
This book was written by a former CIA operative who now teaches intelligence topics in the university. Along those lines, this book is written with the university student audience in mind. In other words, it is a decent intro to the world of espionage, written with an academic style. There is much of interest in the book, but at the same time some of the same examples get repeated over and over. A few of the chapters were great, and some were just so-so. Also, if you are not familiar with some of the famous spy literature such as Le Carre and Graham Greene you may find yourself a little lost on some of the examples. Overall a decent book on the topic--probably just right for a college course.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Good - and frustrating
30 Sep 2010
Format:Paperback
I liked and enjoyed this book, and have no quarrel with any of its factual claims. I did, however find it (mildly) frustrating. This has to do with it's organization. I came to the book, noting its engagement with spy fiction, and hoping for suggestions on what to read! The book is organized by aspect of espionage and for each, the author discusses various real cases and makes comparisons to a select group of spy fiction.
But, the result is that it is the same group of spy novels that are examined over and over. The inevitable Le Carre is referred to quite often, as expected, as are a few other famous authors. And to be sure, a number of lesser known lights are mentioned. But the thematic organization means that you have to read the entire book to find them. Some authors are mentioned only once in passing.
Now, the author would be entirely within his rights to object that I have critiqued the book for not doing something the author never intended to do. Fair enough, as it is not exactly billed as a comprehensive review of spy novels, either. Just pointing out how it is put together.
The book is a fun and interesting read.
But, the result is that it is the same group of spy novels that are examined over and over. The inevitable Le Carre is referred to quite often, as expected, as are a few other famous authors. And to be sure, a number of lesser known lights are mentioned. But the thematic organization means that you have to read the entire book to find them. Some authors are mentioned only once in passing.
Now, the author would be entirely within his rights to object that I have critiqued the book for not doing something the author never intended to do. Fair enough, as it is not exactly billed as a comprehensive review of spy novels, either. Just pointing out how it is put together.
The book is a fun and interesting read.
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