Bloomsbury Publishing PLC MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949

Very interesting and detailed history

While definitely intersting, I am having trouble digesting the very, very detailed accounts of this book. It is no secret that book blurbs are selected for positive advertisement purposes, but this book is in no way "more captivating than a James Bond novel" or some such nonsense. I am currently stuck halfway through because I've grown uninterested in reading more. Yeah. There is a couple of interesting spy stories in here. Examples of how spys actually worked have been rare in the first half of the book. However, if you're a statistician you will absolutely love this novel. Due to the fact that not a lot of paperwork was actually kept from the time of origin of the MI6, most of the first novel is based on payroll records, government spending statistics, and correspondence pertaining to that. Certain portions can be quite riveting to read - hence the 3 stars. But there is not enough "flow" in the novel to pull you in and through it. I bought this on recommendation from a poly-sci mayor. So maybe those kind of people will enjoy it more than I have. So, good luck, and keep on reading.

This is a magisterial work and represents the very best of historical writing on British intelligence of the 20th century. The Secret Intelligence Service, or 'MI6' as it is more popularly known, guards its own secrets with more discipline and rigour than most. It has more than lived up to its motto 'semper occultus'. Professor Jeffery's task has been Herculean since all the chambers of the MI6 archives were prised open for him,and in a field where researchers and specialist journalists are more used to playing 'blind man's buff', the vista must have been overwhelming and then the negotiation on what could and could not be published and narrated into attributable and notated history, I imagine, would have required diplomacy and patience. The result is readable, expository and ground-breaking. MI6 and Professor Jeffery have contributed to providing new information and perspectives to ground the history of Great Britain and its unravelling Empire in the first 50 years of the 20th century. The challenge of great academic historians is to fashion a narrative that is also great literature. Books like these are the successors of the works of Macauley and Gibbon. The verdict will, of course, be the test of time. However, I strongly believe this will be an authoritative and definitive source for scholars of intelligence and the canvas of realism for spy fiction aficionados who wish to gain an understanding of MI6's actual history compared with the entertaining mythologies of James Bond etc. This is a book that you can read and re-read, have by your bedside to dip into while reading the latest Le Carre. The design, illustrations and sturdy hardback structure constitute excellent value. ***** In the light of the scandal about fake, malicious and manipulated reviews on Amazon, I am happy to declare that I have never met the author. We have only had a brief exchange of emails on an academic matter, as I am also employed in the UK Higher Educational sector. I purchased the copy of the book reviewed here.

It arrived promptly and in perfect condition. A reference book more than reading, although it only becomes heavy because of its size.

"Mi6" Is about the history of British Secret Intelligence Service, from 1909 to 1949. This book has to be a reference !