This book is about the British secret service officially known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). The SIS is more commonly known as MI6. The British secret service has been so secret and mysterious since it was created one hundred years ago and this book gives us an insight into its activities.
The book, which I rated 4 stars, tells the true story of British secret service agents while engaged in the art of espionage around the world. True heroes and heroines emerge as you read through the pages. The British secret service was founded in 1909 and the book weaves through its early history prior to World War I. It tells the story of the heavy espionage approach against the Soviets during the Cold War. It covers the military escapades from Afghanistan to Iraq. The book shows us that spies are always at the center of international events, the frontline defenses of any country and are especially important for Britain and its empire.
The book also covers acts of betrayal and how mistakes in espionage can be costly. Although reality is often different from fantasy (think James Bond), some of the adventures and intrigues of the world of espionage are stories that push the human spirit to its limits. The most fascinating story in the book, which has been haunting the halls of Whitehall and Washington to this day, is that of Soviet super spy Kim Philby of the Cambridge Five. Philby rose to high levels of the British secret service on both sides of the Atlantic during the Cold War while working for the Soviet Union, ideologically attracted by communism. His deceit actively cost the lives of many and severely compromised many critical operations. The book details not only Philby but also defectors who come from the other side. The book tells us some of the stories of operations performed by MI6 and MI5 agents who had to handle these defectors and also send agents behind enemy lines.
The book will make you want to learn more about the British secret service and if you take a look at my book recommendation pages, there are a lot of books among those lines. Graham Greene and John Le Carré, who are prominent espionage novelists, appear in the book as both were once secret agents. Makes you wonder how much is true in the books that they wrote.
The book relaxed a little after the Cold War maybe because of official secrets that still need to be kept. The last chapter on the political errors of the failed intelligence that resulted into the Iraq War was boring.
In general the book lived up to all expectations and the author presented himself very well with a very fluid narrative.
MI6’s counterpart, MI5, is responsible for domestic intelligence. There is also a book that came out. You can read the review HERE.
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Related Books:
Defend the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5
Dirty Wars: The World Is A Battlefield
My Silent War: The Autobiography of a Spy
elendara
http://elendara.com/british-secret-service/
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