The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5 by Christopher Andrew Pa

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To mark the centenary of its foundation, the British Security Service, MI5, has opened its archives to an independent historian. This book reveals the precise role of the Service in twentieth-century British history, since its foundation by Captain Kell of the British Army in October 1909 to root out 'the spies of the Kaiser'.

FORMATPaperback CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

o mark the centenary of its foundation, the British Security Service, MI5, has opened its archives to an independent historian. "The Defence of the Realm", the book which results, is an unprecedented publication. It reveals the precise role of the Service in twentieth-century British history, from its foundation by Captain Kell of the British Army in October 1909 to root out 'the spies of the Kaiser' up to its present role in countering Islamic terrorism. It describes the distinctive ethos of MI5, how the organization has been managed, its relationship with the government, where it has triumphed and where it has failed. In all of this, no restriction has been placed on the judgements made by the author. The book also casts new light on many events and periods in British history, showing for example that though well-placed sources MI5 was probably the pre-war department with the best understanding of Hitler's objectives, and had a remarkable willingness to speak truth to power; how it was so astonishingly successful in turning German agents during the Second World War; and, that it had much greater roles than has hitherto been realized during the end of the Empire and in responding to the recurrent fears of successive governments (both Conservative and Labour) and or Cold War Communist subversion. It has new information about the Profumo affair and its aftermath, about the 'Magnificent Five' and about a range of formerly unconfirmed Soviet contacts. It reveals that though MI5 had a file on Harold Wilson it did not plot against him, and it describes what really happened during the failed IRA attack in Gibraltar in March 1988.

Notes

Paperback edition of this first ever authorized history of the British Security Service, aka MI5, written by this independent historian. The resulting book reveals the precise role of MI5 in 20th century British history, from its foundation in 1909, through two world wars, up to and including its present roles in counter espionage and terrorism.

Author Biography

Christopher Andrew is Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Cambridge University and one of the world's leading intelligence historians. His many books include KGB- The Inside Story (with Oleg Gordievsky) and the bestselling The Defence of the Realm- The Authorized Official History of MI5.

Promotional "Headline"

The first ever authorized history of the British Security Service (MI5)

Details ISBN0141023309 Author Christopher Andrew Year 2010 ISBN-10 0141023309 ISBN-13 9780141023304 Media Book Imprint Penguin Books Ltd Subtitle The Authorized History of MI5 Place of Publication London Country of Publication United Kingdom DEWEY 327.1241 Illustrations Illustrations, col. map, ports. Pages 1072 Format Paperback Short Title The Defence of the Realm UK Release Date 2010-06-03 Publisher Penguin Books Ltd Publication Date 2010-06-03 Alternative 9780718197445 Audience General NZ Release Date 2010-08-01 AU Release Date 2010-08-01 We've got this

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