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Espionage

A Concise History

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Paperback
$16.95 US
5.01"W x 7"H x 0.6"D   | 6 oz | 52 per carton
On sale Feb 28, 2023 | 216 Pages | 9780262545020
A concise introduction to the history and methods of espionage, illustrated by spy stories from antiquity to today’s high-tech world.

Espionage is one of the most secret of human activities. It is also, as the popularity of spy stories suggests, one of the most intriguing. This book pulls the veil back on the real world of espionage, revealing how spying actually works. In a refreshingly clear, concise manner, Kristie Macrakis guides readers through the shadowy world of espionage, from the language and practice of spycraft to its role in international politics, its bureaucratic underpinnings, and its transformation in light of modern technology. Espionage is a mirror of society and human foibles with the added cloak of secrecy and deception. Accordingly, Espionage traces spying all the way back to antiquity, while also moving beyond traditional accounts of military and diplomatic intelligence to shine a light on industrial espionage and the new techno-spy. As thorough—and thoroughly readable—as it is compact, the book is an ideal introduction to the history and anatomy of espionage.
Kristie Macrakis was Professor of History in the School of History and Sociology at Georgia Tech and the author of many books, including Seduced by Secrets and Prisoners, Lovers, and Spies. She passed away in November 2022.
Series Foreword ix
Introduction xi
1 What Is Espionage? 1
2 The Spy 29
3 Communicating Secrets 53
4 Stealing Technical Secrets 85
5 Techno-Spies 107
6 Espiocrats 141
Glossary 165
Notes 171
Further Reading 181
Acknowledgments 185
Index 187

About

A concise introduction to the history and methods of espionage, illustrated by spy stories from antiquity to today’s high-tech world.

Espionage is one of the most secret of human activities. It is also, as the popularity of spy stories suggests, one of the most intriguing. This book pulls the veil back on the real world of espionage, revealing how spying actually works. In a refreshingly clear, concise manner, Kristie Macrakis guides readers through the shadowy world of espionage, from the language and practice of spycraft to its role in international politics, its bureaucratic underpinnings, and its transformation in light of modern technology. Espionage is a mirror of society and human foibles with the added cloak of secrecy and deception. Accordingly, Espionage traces spying all the way back to antiquity, while also moving beyond traditional accounts of military and diplomatic intelligence to shine a light on industrial espionage and the new techno-spy. As thorough—and thoroughly readable—as it is compact, the book is an ideal introduction to the history and anatomy of espionage.

Author

Kristie Macrakis was Professor of History in the School of History and Sociology at Georgia Tech and the author of many books, including Seduced by Secrets and Prisoners, Lovers, and Spies. She passed away in November 2022.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword ix
Introduction xi
1 What Is Espionage? 1
2 The Spy 29
3 Communicating Secrets 53
4 Stealing Technical Secrets 85
5 Techno-Spies 107
6 Espiocrats 141
Glossary 165
Notes 171
Further Reading 181
Acknowledgments 185
Index 187