Intelligence In War

(Paperback)

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Description

'No war can be conducted successfully without early and good intelligence,' wrote Marlborough, and from the earliest times commanders have sought knowledge of the enemy, his strengths and weaknesses, his dispositions and intentions. But how much effect, in the 'real time' of a battle or a campaign, can this knowledge have In this magisterial new study, which will fascinate readers of both military and more general history, the author of A History of Warfare goes to the heart of a series of important conflicts to develop a powerful argument about intelligence in war. From the Napoleonic Wars to the sophisticated electronic warfare of the twenty-first century, John Keegan finds linking themes which lead to a compelling conclusion. His narrative sweep is enthralling, whether portraying the dilemmas of Nelson seeking Napoleon's fleet, Stonewall Jackson in the American Civil War, Bletchley as it seeks to crack Ultra during the Battle of the Atlantic, the realities of the secret war in the Falklands or the polymorphous intelligence issues of the contemporary fight against terrorism.

Reviews

Authoritative and stimulating * Daily Telegraph *
This stimulating and informed book...has no contemporary equal. Keegan has done it again * Daily Telegraph *
Intelligence in War combines the lucid prose, perceptive judgements and narrative power that Keegan's readers have come to expect -- Christopher Andrew * The Times *
This excellent and highly readable book is vintage Keegan -- Alistair Horne * Literary Review *
A fascinating book on a fascinating subject, written by a master of the craft -- Raymond Carr * Spectator *

Author Bio

John Keegan is the Defence Editor of the Daily Telegraph and Britain's foremost military historian. The Reith Lecturer in 1998, he is the author of many bestselling books including The Face of Battle, Six Armies in Normandy, Battle at Sea, The Second World War, A History of Warfare (awarded the Duff Cooper Prize), Warpaths, The Battle for History, The First World War, and most recently, Intelligence in War. For many years John Keegan was the Senior Lecturer in Military History at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and he has been a Fellow of Princeton University and Delmas Distinguished Professor of History at Vassar. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He received the OBE in the Gulf War honours list, and was knighted in the Millennium honours list in 1999. John Keegan died in August 2012.