- Paperback: 512 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; New Ed edition (6 Nov 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006530257
- ISBN-13: 978-0006530251
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 396,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
A fascinating and unique history of the launch of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service through the unusual life of its founder, Mansfield Cumming.
• Sir Mansfield Cumming, the founder of the British Secret Service and the original ‘C’, has until now been a shadowy figure. For this authorised biography, the Secret Intelligence Service has released to Alan Judd, Cumming’s voluminous diaries, which have never been seen outside the Service and will be put back into storage in perpetuity when Judd has used them.
• The result is likely to be the most sensational biography of the season, and the definitive account of how MI5 and MI6 – the models for all subsequent secret services all over the world – were set up.
• Cumming signed himself ‘C’, was referred to as such in Whitehall and always used green ink, traditions maintained to this day. His life not only makes riveting reading but casts fascinating light on the development of the Secret Service and its influence on the twentieth century.
From the Back Cover
Written with exclusive access to Whitehall papers and secret diaries, 'The Quest for C' is a unique inside history of the early years of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) through the life of its founder and original 'C', Sir Mansfield Cumming. A retired naval officer, he was fifty when invited to form the secret service. At first he had no staff and subsidised operations from his own pocket, mounting them himself – with disguise and swordstick. But from these unlikely beginnings grew a sophisticated organisation that ran extensive spy networks behind German lines during the First World War, later intervening in Soviet Russia with telling effect. Cumming's legacy included not only an ethos that survives within the secret service to this day but the green ink and famous 'C' signature still used by his successors. Packed with adventure and espionage, 'The Quest for C' brings both the man and the most secret of institutions powerfully to life.
"Judd writes so readably. This well written and meticulous biography brings to life one of the most elusive and intriguing personalities of modern British history".
CHRISTOPHER ANDREW, 'Sunday Telegraph'
"With its subtle editorialising, quiet humour and eminent good sense, this is a text that future historians will pore over"
ANDREW LYCETT, 'Literary Review'
"A splendidly judicial survey: this is an important contribution to modern military history".
M.R.D. FOOT, 'Daily Telegraph'
"Judd describes a character who might have stepped from the pages of John Buchan, a larger-than-life figure who liked to travel abroad with a swordstick and whose firm belief was that the perfect spy ''should be a gentleman. Absolutely honest with considerable tact and at the same time, force of character. It is only the honest man who can defeat the ruffian''. This is likely to remain the definitive account".
ROBERT McCRUM, 'Observer'
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mansfield Cumming a Naval Officer who was "C" the first chief of the secret intelligence service man was a fantastic character. Started it in his flat on his own from nothing, traveled all over europe with a sword stick setting up networks that would help out in WW1. The service started out as the poor relation to Kells MI5 to become one of the formost Service's in the world all down to one amazing man
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