Inside British Intelligence : 100 Years of MI5 and MI6

100 years old in August 2009, this is a complete and up-to-date account of the two oldest and still the most powerful, secretive intelligence services in the world: MI5, the security service, and MI6, the secret intelligence service. This is a story of spectacular triumphs, treachery, their frigid relationship, their untold work with the CIA, Mossad and the spy services of Europe and their part in the fight against terror. It is also the story of two agencies led by men who are enigmatic, eccentric and controversial and who ruthlessly control their spies. From the unique partnership between Mossad and MI6, how MI5 and MI6 became a breeding ground for Soviet spies post-war, their exploitation of the collapse of the Soviet Union and their role in biological warfare, and including how both services monitor the spies of every nation based in London, it reads like fiction. But it's not. Based on prodigious research and interviews with significant players __Inside British Intelligence__ is packed with new and startling information. Gordon Thomas is a bestselling author of 40 books published worldwide, a number dealing with the intelligence world, including __Gideon's Spies__ and __Secrets and Lies__ (both JR Books). His awards include the Citizens Commission for Human Rights Lifetime Achievement Award for Investigative Journalism, the Mark Twain Society Award for Reporting Excellence, and an Edgar Allan Poe Award for Investigation. He lives in Ireland. " Rollicking, readable new history of Britain's famous spy organization." — Los Angeles Times A complete and up-to-date account of the two oldest and still the most powerful, secretive intelligence services in the world: MI5, the security service, and MI6, the secret intelligence service, which have been in existence for over a century. This is a story of spectacular triumphs, treachery, their frigid relationship, their untold work with the CIA, Mossad and the spy services of Europe, and their part in the fight against terror. It is also the story of two agencies led by men who are enigmatic, eccentric and controversial and who ruthlessly control their spies. From the unique partnership between Mossad and MI6, how MI5 and MI6 became a breeding ground for Soviet spies post-war, their exploitation of the collapse of the Soviet Union and their role in biological warfare, and including how both services monitor the spies of every nation based in London, it reads like fiction. But it's not. Based on prodigious research and interviews with significant players Inside British Intelligence is packed with new and startling information. "An irresistible picture of an age of global terrorism, drug trafficking and economic warfare." — Sunday Telegraph " . . . a fascinating cast of moles and double agents, whistle-blowers and politicians. For the ambience of the closed world that inspired James Bond and George Smiley, this book is a winner." — Publishers Weekly "A well-written page-turner." — Kirkus Reviews "Thomas brings to the agencies histories a high level of expertise, a fluent style, accessible to lay reader and expert alike." — Booklist 100 years old in August 2009, this is a complete and up-to-date account of the two oldest and still the most powerful, secretive intelligence services in the world: MI5, the security service, and MI6, the secret intelligence service. This is a story of spectacular triumphs, treachery, their frigid relationship, their untold work with the CIA, Mossad and the spy services of Europe, and their part in the fight against terror. It is also the story of two agencies led by men who are enigmatic, eccentric and controversial and who ruthlessly control their spies. From the unique partnership between Mossad and MI6, how MI5 and MI6 became a breeding ground for Soviet spies post-war, their exploitation of the collapse of the Soviet Union and their role in biological warfare, and including how both services monitor the spies of every nation based in London, it reads like fiction. But itÕs not. Based on prodigious research and interviews with significant players Inside British Intelligence is packed with new and startling information. Gordon Thomas is a bestselling author of 40 books published worldwide, a number dealing with the intelligence world, including GideonÕs Spies and Secrets and Lies (both JR Books). His awards include the Citizens Commission for Human Rights Lifetime Achievement Award for Investigative Journalism, the Mark Twain Society Award for Reporting Excellence, and an Edgar Allan Poe Award for Investigation. He lives in Ireland. * From the best-selling author of Gideon's Spies, an up-to-the-minute look behind the closed doors of MI5 and MI6 at 100 years of age * Thomas reveals secret operations at the cutting edge of danger * How did MI5 and MI6 ensure that London became the most spied upon population in the world? All this and more is revealed This up-to-the-minute look behind the closed doors of MI5 and MI6 lifts the lid on a century of both triumphs and failures. Gordon Thomas reveals secret operations at the cutting edge of danger, and a gallery of characters no novelist would dare to invent