About the Book
British Intelligence is the oldest, most experienced organization of its kind in the world, the unseen hand behind so many world events, and glamorized by James Bond. Despite the change in role, from a global power controlling an Empire that covered much of the world, to a mere partner in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union, the country’s famed security and intelligence apparatus continues largely intact, and recognized as “punching above its weight.” Feared by the Soviets, admired and trusted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), British Intelligence has provided the hidden dimension to the conduct of domestic and foreign policy, with the added mystique of Whitehall secrecy, a shroud that for years protected the identities of the shadowy figures who recruited the sources, broke the codes, and caught the spies.
This second edition of Historical Dictionary of the British Intelligence covers the history through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 1,000 cross-referenced entries on specific operations, spies and their handlers, the moles and defectors, top leaders, and main organizations. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the British Intelligence.
About the Author :
Nigel West is the European Editor of the International Journal of Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence and teaches the history of postwar intelligence at the Centre for Counterintelligence and Security Studies. He is the author of many books, including the Historical Dictionary of British Intelligence (Scarecrow, 2005), Historical Dictionary of International Intelligence (Scarecrow, 2006), Historical Dictionary of Cold War Counterintelligence (Scarecrow, 2007), and Historical Dictionary of Sexspionage (Scarecrow, 2009). In October 2003 he was awarded the U.S. Association of Former Intelligence Officers' first Lifetime Literature Achievement Award. In 2012 he was appointed a judge of the St Ermin’s Intelligence Book of the Year award.
Review :
The 1st edition of this work was published in 2005 (see ARBA 2006, entry 665), and was the first title in this series. It was later reprinted asThe A to Z of British Intelligence (Scarecrow Press, 2009). This new edition has over 1,000 entries on vital events, important operations and programs, government agencies and offices, enemies and allies (who were sometimes both at the same time), secret equipment, and technical issues. As with most things, it is the people who are at the center of the story: who were heroes, who were traitors, who had important roles, and who were fumblers and disasters, what were their foibles and eccentricties? And indeed, the biographical entries tend to dominate the book. After all, it is humans who do the actual work. The numerous highlighted cross-references and see also references found throughout the book are most helpful in leading the reader to further related information. Of course, the most entries are about the twentieth century, as there is more information about that century, and that time period was an incredibly active one in terms of wars, scientific advances, and agent operations. The introduction is an excellent brief overview for those new to this field. The 24-page bibliography is nicely arranged by broad subject category, making it easier to identify the purpose of the item. . . .There is a list of acronyms and abbreviations (so important for this field), a chronology (1883-2013), and 39 photographs. . . .[T]his is a hefty book, full of information that is easy to read and understand. While there are many reference books on intelligence operations in general, there are very few on just British Intelligence. It is also available in electronic format. Other entries in this historical dictionary series authored by Mr. West include books on sexspionage (2009), and intelligence during the First World War (2014). This sturdily bound title is recommended for the reference collections of academic and large public libraries, and special collections.
[The book] contains[s] excellent bibliographic essays that summarize the British intelligence literature and comment on its quality. . . .[it is] a valuable starting point for those who want to know more about espionage history.
