The Defence of the Realm The Authorized History of MI5

Updated Edition

Paperback (03 Jun 2010)

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Publisher's Synopsis

'Sensationally good ... A riveting story, the real-life spooks and spies far more compelling than anything you will see on the screen ... history doesn't come more fascinating than this' Evening Standard

For over 100 years, the agents of MI5 have defended Britain against enemy subversion. Their work has remained shrouded in secrecy - until now.


This first-ever authorized account reveals the British Security Service as never before: its inner workings, its clandestine operations, its failures and its triumphs.

'Definitive and fascinating ... whether reporting on Hitler in the 1930s, the Double-Cross System of the second world war, Zionist terrorism, the atom spies, the Cambridge spies, the so-called Wilson plot or the 1988 shooting of the IRA bombers in Gibraltar, this book is essential reading' Alan Judd, Spectator

'The British Secret Service has opened its archives - and even 'insiders' may be in for a surprise ... magisterial ... extremely readable' Oleg Gordievsky, The Times

'Compelling ... a feast' Max Hastings, Sunday Times

'A superb account ... He has captured every important detail of the Service ... unlikely to be surpassed for another 100 years' Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph

Book information

ISBN: 9780141023304
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Imprint: Penguin Books
Pub date:
Edition: Updated Edition
DEWEY: 327.1241
DEWEY edition: 22
Language: English
Number of pages: 1044
Weight: 776g
Height: 199mm
Width: 130mm
Spine width: 52mm