The Puppet Masters: Spies, Traitors and the Real Forces Behind World Events

by John Hughes-Wilson

The secret world of military intelligence—written by a senior intelligence officer   John Hughes-Wilson is a former intelligence officer, and is ideally placed to reveal the secret history of military intelligence. He takes us "behind the scenes" of military and political events from Elizabeth I to Osama bin Laden and the crisis in the Middle East.  The book is divided into three parts. The first investigates some famous disasters when lack of intelligence was the decisive factor, e.g. Gallipoli and Dieppe. The second examines some equally famous examples of good intelligence being overlooked or ignored, e.g. the "bridge too far" battle of Arnhem. The last part goes behind the scenes of some famous successes, from the capture of Slobodan Milosevic to the defeat of IRA bombing campaigns and the arrest of a spy ring at the heart of NATO.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Espionage, Politics

480 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2004

Reviews

[Phill Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a course way back in my university daze called "Security and Intelligence" (insert oxymoron joke here). After the final lecture, I marched up to my professor and earnestly thanked him -- not because I was brown nosing, but because that was the best damn course in school. The Puppet Masters was not a textbook for that class, but it could have topped the reading list. This is not damning it with faint praise: Textbooks are stereotyped as dry and academic, while The Puppet Masters blew my mind. Read this book, leave your house, and play the James Bond theme in your head while ducking behind trees on your way to the grocery store. If the police stop you for suspicious behavior, tell them you are executing one critical mission for MI6, and assign the rozzers to clear stupid civilians from the area.

[William Hennessey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with the review by Sally W: an "interesting" book, but replete with structural errors. Either the typist -- or the editor... or both -- didn't proof-read the grammar sufficiently. Also: Harry Hopkins a KGB spy? C'mon! The author undoubtedly believes that anyone who supported Russia's WWII cooperation must have been a Red.

[Christopher Bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Although this was a bit dry in places in general it is a worthwhile read. The author has done his research well.

[Philip Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating stuff

Every now and again I delve into the non fiction world for a change. I enjoy spies/espionage tax and the book was as excellent as it was fascinating

[Mikee Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot to process lol.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a disturbing book. The best history of spying and espionage I have ever read. Donald Trump, if he ever bothered to read a book, might want to peruse this one. He might think twice about criticizing intelligence agencies.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow! If you have any interest at all in what makes history and in spies and conspiracies and intelligence gathering through the ages, this book is for you. Thesis: that the best generals only succeed through great Intelligence. You want the truth about Washington, Lincoln, Napoleon and Bismarck's success, about the Cold War, not to mention World Wars I and II? Read this book. The author grasps what is really interesting and adds his own (prejudiced, but entertaining) comments. Teachers of history, both American and World, ought to add the author's stories of the underside of history to their repertoires, because these telling details add interest and also balance and humanity to the sweep of cause and effect that makes up the events that shape our world.

[Sally-W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book caught my attention because I really enjoy espionage fiction. I found it interesting but the more I read, the more dissatisfied I became with the number of errors.

I have to assume that whoever edited the Kindle version tired after a while and abandoned the project. There were repetitive sentences following one another that could have been cut, missing hyphens, missing prepositions, missing articles, poor grammar - eg. "was an SIS. officer", repeated phrases - "it was the it was the".

I tired, too, of reporting content error.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most fascinating, erudite and comprehensive account of the role of hidden influence, covert operations and a range of master manipulators of men and situations in history and statecraft down the ages. Seamlessly integrates theoretical aspects with examples and anecdotes galore to give a good feel of the subject and underplay that fact can definitely be much more strange and singular than the most lurid fiction...

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, just not brilliant. I enjoyed learning about the history of espionage, from Roman times to the present. I only rate it 3 stars as its doesn't tax the brain too much, but is a book I'd most certainly recommend, and read again some day.