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Defend The Realm: The Authorized History Of MI5 (2009)

by Christopher M. Andrew(Favorite Author)

3.8 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0307263630 (ISBN13: 9780307263636)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Knopf

review 1: This book covers the first 100 years of the British security service. First tasked with finding German spies before the First World War, the service has had to adapt over the years. While the dangers (Germany, USSR, PIRA and Islamic terrorists) have changed, the main task of the service has evolved from primarily counter-espionage to anti-terrorism. A very long read, but thorough and informative.
review 2: Dull in parts, true. Not everything is interesting. Suggestions that this is uncritical are unfair -- there is a much criticism, notably with respect to counter-espionage in the Cold War period. There is also much shifting of blame. The idea that this must be baseless self-service because the work is an official history is a valid possibility, but tha... moret hardly makes it a conclusive vice.Only for those with a close interest in these matters. Discussion of early interactions between MI5 and the political side of government are particularly interesting and, perhaps, fertile ground for further exploration. less

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