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

by Terry Crowdy

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

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Espionage, Research, Reference, Military History

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2006

About the author

Terry Crowdy was born in London in 1970. Initially a re-enactor, his interest in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars led to writing for specialist magazines, and then to book authorship.

Reviews

[Melissa McShane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information Crowdy presents is interesting, but the style is so dull I found my attention slipping. Recommended as a reference work--look up the spy you want to know about, but I can't suggest reading it for pleasure.

[catechism · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is bad.

[Debbi Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and thorough overview of spycraft throughout history.

Not one I'd recommend unless you're very interested in the subject. But this comprehensive historical reference book reads, at times, like a spy thriller.

If history, politics, and spying interest you, this is one fantastic book to read!

[Linus Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book--it's about a subject I find quite fascinating. And indeed, the book starts off well. However, in the middle, it really is quite a drag to read. Perhaps I'm not the target audience to hear about the intricate court politics of Revolutionary and Napoleonic-era France, but my God that was a slog. We are introduced to snippets of people we have never heard of, who never show up again, and expected to keep many players straight. I frequently flipped back and forth to try to keep track of various dramatis personae. The book does pick back up in WW2 and cold war espionage, and I really almost wish there were more space devoted to these more recent spying episodes. It then falls on its face once again in the epilogue, talking about Israeli/Mossad secret actions.

It's not a 2-star, but that's only because I forced myself to finish it.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the earliest recorded examples from myth and history through to the end of the 20th century, this was an interesting and very readable overview over the history of espionage, touching on a wealth of different stories and events. While due to the breadth of subtopics covered, the book doesn't offer all that much depth for each of them, it is an excellent starting point from which to move on to more in-depth works with a narrower focus.

[Tinwerume · Rating 1 out of 5]

400 pages of absolute drivel.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because I needed to do some research and was not familiar with the subject matter. There is always that fine line between too technical and too vague to be helpful.

Not so with this book. I learned a great deal and found evidence of documentation and quotes from others. There is a handy list of sources by chapter and word index in the back. But it was easy to follow and well written. I became so caught up in the writing that I forgot to take notes for my research.

The book covers spying from ancient times to the present.

Recommend for interest or for research.

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I walked away from this book was shock at how unbelievably stupid people could be--even in wartime. General X: "Well, you seem to be a nice, well-brought up young man. Why don't I give you a tour of our weapons facility." Okay, well, the dialogue is my own but the idea is for real. A fun, if scary, look at espionage across cultures and ages.

[Pete Stevenson]

I will tell you when I finish

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally got through this book. Not because it wasn't good, but just because of my own schedule and whims. It really was an interesting look at the history of spying.

[Angela Maria Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really interesting, concise, well-researched, and well-written. If you ever want to learn about the history of espionage this will be your go-to book.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent engaging and well written book, stylisitically pleasing to the layman and historian alike.