The Enemy Within: A History of Spies, Spymasters and Espionage

by Terry Crowdy

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780962245
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/20/2011
Series:	General Military
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	493 KB

About the Author

Terry Crowdy has long been fascinated by many aspects of military history and takes great pleasure delving into forgotten historical sources and seeking information that has eluded others. The author of a number of articles and books including The Enemy Within: A History of Espionage, and Military Misdemeanours: Corruption, incompetence, lust and downright stupidity. Terry lives in Kent, UK.
Terry Crowdy has long been fascinated by many aspects of military history and takes great pleasure delving into forgotten historical sources and seeking information that has eluded others. The author of a number of articles and books including The Enemy Within: A History of Espionage, and Military Misdemeanours: Corruption, incompetence, lust and downright stupidity. Terry lives in Kent, UK.

Table of 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
Index

Editorial Reviews

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.

Publishers Weekly

Intelligence operations are a hot topic. But since most recent books have a more narrow or current focus, a popular account of the high points in espionage through the ages is welcome. Crowdy recounts important activities, many of them already well known, but without detailing how much they affected history. The text emphasizes actual undercover operations, not the analysis or utilization of gathered intelligence. Crowdy has published works with Osprey on the French military during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, and these sections are among the strongest. Also interesting is the section on Germany's infiltration of France before world war I. That said, the book lacks a good introduction and a conclusion. This title is not a deep examination of the topic; for that, one may want to look at Janusz Piekalkiewicz's World History of Espionage: Agents, Systems, Operations. Use this volume for a general overview, then move on to more specialized monographs. An optional purchase but certainly suitable for personal, public, and undergraduate libraries. (Index not seen.)-Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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