Secret Lives

Following on from the success of Brief Lives, published in 1997, and Political Lives, Stage and Screen Lives, and Literary Lives, published in 2001, Secret Lives, which will publish alongside three other titles, Royal Lives, Military Lives, and Musical Lives, will be a welcome addition to theseries to anyone with an interest in the secret underworld of political and military intrigue.What is it like to be a spy? What makes someone decide to lead a secret life? What qualities do such people have in common? How do they get away without being detected? How do they slip up? How are they found out? What makes their life so extraordinary? What makes their life so ordinary? Why did 'Kim' Philby become a spy? What events first sparked Sir Colin McVean Gubbins's interest in irregular warfare? What part did businessman Greville Wynne play in the Cuban missile crisis? Who really was Guy Fawkes?Eminent historian and former wartime intelligence officer, M. R. D. Foot, has made a personal selection of around 100 mini-biographies taken from the archives of the Dictionary of National Biography of some of the men and women who have in their lifetime made themselves famous (or made themselvesinfamous) working in secret intelligence.Viewed individually each article in this collection is a permanent historic record of a life in a particular period in time, from the times of Guy Fawkes to the end of the last century. Viewed as a collection the biographies allow for a fascinating tour through the history of secret intelligence. Entries include:Benedict Grinsburg on Edith CavellChristopher Andrew on Sir M. G. S. CummingSidney Lee on Guy FawkesPeter Wilkinson on Sir Colin McVean GubbinsNigel Clive on 'Kim' PhilbyM. R. D. Foot on Violette SzaboSidney Lee on Sir Francis WalsinghamJohn Hamilton on William WindhamM. R. D. Foot on Greville Maynard Wynne