The Enemy Within: A History of Spies, Spymasters, and Espionage (General Military)

To gain the upper hand in conflict the ability to know what your enemy is planning is vital. Massive amounts of money have been spent and many lives have been lost in pursuit of this objective. From biblical times to the present day, leaders have employed espionage on and off the battlefield in the quest for victory. Tactics might differ, from dirty tricks and theft to interrogation and torture, but the aim is the same - to outmaneuver your enemy and emerge triumphant. Separating myth from reality, Terry Crowdy traces the history of espionage from its development in ancient times through to the end of the Cold War and into the 21st century, shedding light on the clandestine activities that have so often tipped the balance in times of war. His lively narrative delves into the murky depths of the realm of the spymasters and their spies, revealing many amazing, and often bizarre stories, along the way. From "the slave with the tattoed head" in Ancient Greece, through the ship's monkey hanged as a spy during the Napoleonic wars to the British "Double Cross" ruse in World War II, and from Ivan the Terrible's forming of the first Russian secret police in the 16th century through sexual wiles of Mata Hari to operations in the 21st century Middle East, this entertaining true history of espionage is as exciting as any spy fiction. Chapter Heads - In ancient times. Through dark ages. Spy, Britannia! Espionage in the Age of Reason. Vive la revolution! Napoleon's 'secret part'. Uncivil war. The godfather of secret service. Spy fever. Double-cross agents and radio games. Axis spies against America. Spies of the Soviet era. With no end in sight. "Crowdy's effective, readable summary of espionage in human history begins with the ancient Egyptians and doesn't end even with the Mossad. Throughout history, a broad range of not only governments but also people have used various means to learn about their enemies and, not infrequently, their friends. Although the senses of humans on the ground have always been highly valued, technology, including invisible inks and coding devices, also has a long history in spying. Women have figured prominently as spies (e.g., Delilah catching Samson in an early "honey trap" of sexual favors) and spymasters (e.g., Roman empress Theodora discouraging gossip about her colorful past). The growth of surveillance technology from miniature cameras to wiretaps and satellites has left the purely human instruments of intelligence gathering at a disadvantage in fights for appropriations and publicity, a situation that Crowdy deplores: "A spy is like a traveling salesman"--he has to "know the territory." Readers of this book will know it, too, much better than they did before." Booklist

writing 2, 500 Years Ago, The Chinese Philosopher-general Sun Tzû Advised That Knowledge Of The Enemy Can Only Be Obtained By Other Men. If This Is The Case, And History Suggests It Is, The Study Of Espionage Must Come Out Of The Shadows. One Should Always Know One's Enemy. More So If It Is An Enemy Within.

publishers Weekly

crowdy, Who Has Previously Written For Osprey On The Uniforms And Organizations Of French Revolutionary Armed Forces, Reflects His Publisher's Expanding Horizons In This Survey Of Espionage From Ancient Times To America's Invasion Of Iraq. Since Egypt Fought The Hittites, He Observes, Secret Agents Have Been Dispatched To Spy And Perform Other Deeds That May Be Against The Law But Are Perceived To Be In The Country's Best Interest. Though Crowdy Is Familiar With Standard Sources, This Is A Work Of Narrative And Anecdote Rather Than Analysis, And Succeeds Within That Context. He Discusses The Role Of Intelligence Collecting In Creating And Sustaining The Persian, Roman And Mongol Empires, Offering Judas As An Early Example Of A Double Agent. The Development Of Professional Secret Services In Early Modern Europe Segues Into The Often-overlooked Role Of Intelligence In The Revolutionary/napoleonic Era, Making For Tales Of Spy And Counterspy That Are The Most Interesting In The Book. As Crowdy Moves Into More Recent Times, He Stresses Increasing Technological Competition, Reflecting The Increasing Difficulty Of Mounting Human Intelligence Operations In Modern National Security States. His Conclusion Is A Paradox: Secret Services Must Be Kept Under Control, Yet Be Effective Enough To Make A Difference. (oct. 31) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

To gain the upper hand in conflict the ability to know what your enemy is planning is vital. Massive amounts of money have been spent and many lives have been lost in pursuit of this objective. From biblical times to the present day, leaders have employed espionage on and off the battlefield in the quest for victory. Tactics might differ, from dirty tricks and theft to interrogation and torture, but the aim is the same - to outmanoeuvre your enemy and emerge triumphant. Separating myth from reality, the Enemy Within, traces the history of espionage from its development in ancient times through to the end of the Cold War and beyond, shedding light on the clandestine activities that have so often tipped the balance in times of war. This detailed account delves into the murky depths of the realm of the spymasters and their spies, revealing many amazing, and often bizarre stories, along the way. From the Monkey hanged as a spy during the Napoleonic wars to the British Double Cross Committee in World War II and from Ivan the Terrible's forming of the first Russian secret police in the 16th century to the infiltration of the IRA in the 20th century, this journey through the history of espionage shows us that be they thrill seekers or madmen, fanatics or tricksters no two spies are alike and their fascinating stories are fraught with danger and intrigue. CHAPTER HEADS In ancient times. Through dark ages. Spy, Britannia! Espionage in the Age of Reason. Vive la revolution! Napoleon's 'secret part'. Uncivil war. The godfather of secret service. Spy fever. Double-cross agents and radio games. Axis spies against America. Spies of the Soviet era. With no end in sight. From the Hardcover edition "To gain the upper hand in conflict the ability to know what your enemy is planning is vital. Massive amounts of money have been spent and many lives have been lost in pursuit of this objective. From biblical times to the present day, leaders have employed espionage on and off the battlefield in the quest for victory. Tactics might differ, from dirty tricks and theft to interrogation and torture, but the aim is the same - to outmanoeuvre your enemy and emerge triumphant. Separating myth from reality, the Enemy Within, traces the history of espionage from its development in ancient times through to the end of the Cold War and beyond, shedding light on the clandestine activities that have so often tipped the balance in times of war. This detailed account delves into the murky depths of the realm of the spymasters and their spies, revealing many amazing, and often bizarre stories, along the way. From the Monkey hanged as a spy during the Napoleonic wars to the British Double Cross Committee in World War II and from Ivan the Terrible's forming of the first Russian secret police in the 16th century to the infiltration of the IRA in the 20th century, this journey through the history of espionage shows us that be they thrill seekers or madmen, fanatics or tricksters no two spies are alike and their fascinating stories are fraught with danger and intrigue"--Publisher description. To gain the upper hand in conflict the ability to know what your enemy is planning is vital. Massive amounts of money have been spent and many lives have been lost in pursuit of this objective. From biblical times to the present day, leaders have employed espionage on and off the battlefield in the quest for victory. Tactics might differ, from dirty tricks and theft to interrogation and torture, but the aim is the same - to outmanoeuvre your enemy and emerge triumphant. Separating myth from reality, the Enemy Within, traces the history of espionage from its development in ancient times through to the end of the Cold War and beyond, shedding light on the clandestine activities that have so often tipped the balance in times of war. This detailed account delves into the murky depths of the realm of the spymasters and their spies, revealing many amazing, and often bizarre stories, along the way. From the Monkey hanged as a spy during the Napoleonic wars to the British Double Cross... The Enemy Within: A History of Espionage Separating myth from reality, The Enemy Within traces the history of espionage from its development in ancient times through to the end of the Cold War and beyond.This detailed account delves into the murky depths of the realm of spymasters and their spies, revealing many amazing and often bizarre stories along the way, shedding light on the clandestine activities that have so often tipped the balance in times of war.From the monkey hanged as a spy during the Napoleonic wars to the British Double Cross Committee in World War II, this journey through the history of espionage shows us that no two spies are alike and their fascinating stories are fraught with danger and intrigue. Cover; Title; Contents; Introduction; Chapter 1: In Ancient Times; Chapter 2: Through Dark Ages; Chapter 3: Spy, Britannia; Chapter 4: Espionage in the Age of Reason; Chapter 5: Vive La Révolution?; Chapter 6: Napoleon's 'Secret Part'; Chapter 7: Uncivil War; Chapter 8: The Godfather of Secret Service; Chapter 9: Spy Fever; Chapter 10: Eastern Peril; Chapter 11: Double Agents and Radio Games; Chapter 12: Axis Spies Against America; Chapter 13: Spies of the Soviet Era; Chapter 14: With No End in Sight ... ; Endnotes; Select Bibliography; Imprint Separating myth from reality, this book traces the history of espionage from its development in ancient times through to the end of the Cold War and beyond, shedding light on the clandestine activities that have so often tipped the balance in times.