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MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949 Hardcover – 21 Sept. 2010

by Keith Jeffery (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 255 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    832 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
  4. Publication date
    21 Sept. 2010
  5. Dimensions
    20.3 x 25.4 x 4.7 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0747591830
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0747591832
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Review

'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

About the Author

Keith Jeffery was Professor of British History at Queen's University, Belfast, and a Member of the Royal Irish Academy. In 1998 he was the Lees Knowles Lecturer in Military Science at Trinity College, Cambridge, and in 2003-4, Parnell Fellow in Irish Studies at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He was the author of fifteen books and lived in Northern Ireland.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 21 Sept. 2010
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 832 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0747591830
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0747591832
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.32 kg
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 20.3 x 25.4 x 4.7 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 229,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 255 ratings

About the author

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Keith Jeffery

Keith Jeffery

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Keith Jeffery is a professor of British history at Queen's University, Belfast, and has written or edited thirteen books.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
255 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and informative, with one review highlighting the detailed accounts of early MI6 officers' exploits. Moreover, they appreciate its readability, historical accuracy, and consider it good value for money. However, the book's weight receives mixed reactions, with several customers noting it is very heavy.

Select to learn more

InterestInformation qualityInsightReadableWriting qualityValue for moneyWeight
14 customers mention ‘Interest’11 positive3 negative

Customers find the book interesting and enjoyable to read, with one mentioning it can be read and re-read.

"Interesting book, recommended if you’re interested in the reality espionage" Read more

"...Otherwise an interesting read. It seems to take for ever. I've only reached 1915 and the book started in 1909!" Read more

"It’s a long long book and extremely interesting." Read more

"Gave it away, too dull and long for me" Read more

13 customers mention ‘Information quality’10 positive3 negative

Customers find the book informative, with one customer highlighting the detailed accounts of early MI6 officers' amazing exploits.

"...A good informative read which gives some idea of what was/is involved in the gathering of intelligence." Read more

"Absolutely fabulous book - well written and full of relevant information on the secret intelligence services from 1909 to 1949 in an easy to..." Read more

"...Persevered with it because full of interesting details. If anything just too detailed." Read more

"...Yes, it is a scholarly tome and well written, but not at all informative for me I'm afraid." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Insight’8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with one customer noting it serves as a definitive source for intelligence scholars, while another highlights its structured organization of British intelligence gathering.

"Historically well written and a facinating insight. A Recommended Read." Read more

"This is a magisterial work and represents the very best of historical writing on British intelligence of the 20th century...." Read more

"...Yes, it is a scholarly tome and well written, but not at all informative for me I'm afraid." Read more

"...uncritical portrayal of the service that, while no doubt good for PR purposes, doesn't really qualify as an independent history...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Readable’4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fairly easy to read.

"Highly readable account of the start of MI6 and the establishment of a structured organisation of British intelligence gathering, from pre-WW1 onward..." Read more

"...on the secret intelligence services from 1909 to 1949 in an easy to understand format" Read more

"...The result is readable, expository and ground-breaking...." Read more

"...security, however it is written in such a manner that it is fairly(!) easy to read...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Writing quality’4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one noting it is among the best historical works on British intelligence.

"Absolutely fabulous book - well written and full of relevant information on the secret intelligence services from 1909 to 1949 in an easy to..." Read more

"Historically well written and a facinating insight. A Recommended Read." Read more

"This is a magisterial work and represents the very best of historical writing on British intelligence of the 20th century...." Read more

"...Yes, it is a scholarly tome and well written, but not at all informative for me I'm afraid." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Value for money’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money.

"...my brother and he likes very much it is in great shape and good value for my money thank you so very much again kindest regards Patricia Thompson" Read more

"...The design, illustrations and sturdy hardback structure constitute excellent value. *****..." Read more

"Top quality product at very cheap price compared to shops. Free P&P also" Read more

3 customers mention ‘Weight’1 positive2 negative

Customers find the book heavy.

"Insightful but heavy at times..." Read more

"It is a very heavy book in all ways. Persevered with it because full of interesting details. If anything just too detailed." Read more

"A very heavy book. No, I mean a very heavy book. It needs a government health warning.Try holding this in bed...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • T. Crook
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding intelligence history
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2010
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This is a magisterial work and represents the very best of historical writing on British intelligence of the 20th century. The Secret Intelligence Service, or 'MI6' as it is more popularly known, guards its own secrets with more discipline and rigour than most. It has more than lived up to its motto 'semper occultus'. Professor Jeffery's task has been Herculean since all the chambers of the MI6 archives were prised open for him,and in a field where researchers and specialist journalists are more used to playing 'blind man's buff', the vista must have been overwhelming and then the negotiation on what could and could not be published and narrated into attributable and notated history, I imagine, would have required diplomacy and patience. The result is readable, expository and ground-breaking. MI6 and Professor Jeffery have contributed to providing new information and perspectives to ground the history of Great Britain and its unravelling Empire in the first 50 years of the 20th century. The challenge of great academic historians is to fashion a narrative that is also great literature. Books like these are the successors of the works of Macauley and Gibbon. The verdict will, of course, be the test of time. However, I strongly believe this will be an authoritative and definitive source for scholars of intelligence and the canvas of realism for spy fiction aficionados who wish to gain an understanding of MI6's actual history compared with the entertaining mythologies of James Bond etc. This is a book that you can read and re-read, have by your bedside to dip into while reading the latest Le Carre. The design, illustrations and sturdy hardback structure constitute excellent value.

    *****
    In the light of the scandal about fake, malicious and manipulated reviews on Amazon, I am happy to declare that I have never met the author. We have only had a brief exchange of emails on an academic matter, as I am also employed in the UK Higher Educational sector. I purchased the copy of the book reviewed here.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Walker Bros fan
    5.0 out of 5 stars MI6
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2010
    Format: HardcoverVerified 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.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Mr. M. Herbert
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful overview of the origins of British Intelligence Services
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Highly readable account of the start of MI6 and the establishment of a structured organisation of British intelligence gathering, from pre-WW1 onward. Amazing exploits by its early Officers are detailed. Some actions border on schoolboy fantasy, yet are of course, true. It is a long book, but nonetheless the stories which at time read like "yarns" are so surprising, it holds the readers interest. A facinating book. Recommended for anyone with even a slight interest in the history of the Secret Services of Great Britain.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • A Godfrey Hunt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Length of period covered
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2024
    Verified Purchase
    For personal knowledge, and previous experience. I have the other two on GCQ and MI5.
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  • Taiga
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    5 stars for this because it has revealed a lot that I hadn't known earlier about the workings of the SIS. SIS is QED; secret and so we know little of what it does or why and this book opens the curtains for a peek behind the scenes. When we remember that a lot of stuff can't be discussed for another 50 years ( by which time I won't be around to be bothered ) it's fascinating to see what we are allowed to see. A good place to start of you want to see what cads, bounders, rascals, scallywags and patriots have been doing to protect our nation in ungentlemanly ways (^; !
    3 people found this helpful
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  • NJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars MI6 More danger than you thought possible
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 November 2010
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    A very heavy book. No, I mean a very heavy book. It needs a government health warning.Try holding this in bed. If you doze off and it slips from ones grasp, a bloody nose could be the outcome. Otherwise an interesting read. It seems to take for ever. I've only reached 1915 and the book started in 1909!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mr C R Ainley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful but heavy at times
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 February 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    If you expecting a light read then this isn't for you but the author has done his research well and this charts the history of one of the oldest intelligence services in the world with depth and insight. If you have the patience to plough through some heavy sections you enjoy christianainley.blogspot.co.uk
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  • Hans Bonnesen
    3.0 out of 5 stars MI6 from A to Z
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 November 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A lengthy and somewhat tiring story of the MI6 and its actions.
    You must have time on your hands really to dig into this historical essay.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Richard R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 August 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Very interesting and detailed history
    Report
  • Dr Martin Dunn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not a spy thriller
    Reviewed in Australia on 4 June 2017
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This is an official history, not a spy thriller. The author had access to MI6 archives which provided some fascinating accounts of the bureaucratic battles the agency fought, but had many gaps in the actual intelligence collected. A word count in the Kindle edition showed that the word"budget" is nearly as frequent as there word"spy".
    Report
  • fabian wertek
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not as advertised ....
    Reviewed in Germany on 2 December 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    While definitely intersting, I am having trouble digesting the very, very detailed accounts of this book.
    It is no secret that book blurbs are selected for positive advertisement purposes, but this book is in no way "more captivating than a James Bond novel" or some such nonsense.
    I am currently stuck halfway through because I've grown uninterested in reading more. Yeah. There is a couple of interesting spy stories in here. Examples of how spys actually worked have been rare in the first half of the book. However, if you're a statistician you will absolutely love this novel.
    Due to the fact that not a lot of paperwork was actually kept from the time of origin of the MI6, most of the first novel is based on payroll records, government spending statistics, and correspondence pertaining to that.
    Certain portions can be quite riveting to read - hence the 3 stars. But there is not enough "flow" in the novel to pull you in and through it.
    I bought this on recommendation from a poly-sci mayor. So maybe those kind of people will enjoy it more than I have.
    So, good luck, and keep on reading.
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  • Juan Antonio Guerrero Misa
    4.0 out of 5 stars A reference book
    Reviewed in Spain on 8 August 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    It arrived promptly and in perfect condition. A reference book more than reading, although it only becomes heavy because of its size.
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  • Kamel Zaïri
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting
    Reviewed in France on 4 November 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    "Mi6" Is about the history of British Secret Intelligence Service, from 1909 to 1949. This book has to be a reference !
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