superb reference work

[Feliks, Moderator]

I didn't think I could find as detailed an survey of intelligence ops, '40s-'50s-'60s as I have just discovered. Usually they are either very manual-like (Such as Orlov's) or too political (like Dulles).

All you aspiring espionage authors, this work of nonfiction has all the fine-grain minutiae you could ask for. The author is a Pulitzer winner and he shows it in spades.

I'll be delving into it ASAP and let you know what I find.

[Feliks, Moderator]

Generated some fresh book titles for our shelves, at the very least..some classic nonfiction I'm glad to gather together in one spot:

'Soviet Espionage' by David Dallin (a history of their intel services down through the decades)

'Turncoats, Traitors And Heroes' by John Blakeless (American Revolutionary war, War of 1812, & Spanish American war espionage)

'Secret Missions: The Story of an Intelligence Officer' by Ellis Zacharias (a U.S. navy spy, 1908 - 1946)

'This Deception' autobio of Soviet female spy Hede Massing

[Feliks, Moderator]

Chapter 3 and 4 are kind of dry; but only because the characters themselves are dry. The author goes over the Judy Coplon case and the Harry Gold case in exacting detail. Still, good fodder for a writer to draw upon; though the tradecraft used by these amateurs is lame.

Chapter 5 covers Wild Bill Donovan and the OSS. Much more colorful.

Additionally, the career of Allen Foster Dulles is examined; (I believe the Dulles family gives Charles McCarry the model for his 'waspish, Yale-educated, skull&bones club, Massachussets spy family') in

The Last Supper

6 treats of the early NSA; 7 describes 'dirty-tricks' on both sides.

Chapter 8 addresses the case of the GRU's Colonel Rudolf Abel

[[deleted user]]

Felix... Who are you?

[Feliks, Moderator]

eh, 'just a drip' who 'enjoys a few nips', with 'a few pips', I reckon.

"..he's just a man like any other man... only, more so"


"He was born with the gift of laughter and the sense that the world was mad"
--'Scaramouche', Rafael Sabatini

[Feliks, Moderator]

another title:

Strategic Intelligence and National Decisions

It is this author, soldier, and statesman: Roger Hilsman whom I believe is the likely model for the character of Barney in that same fine McCarry novel listed above.

[Feliks, Moderator]

Uh oh. Found a book mentioned by de Gramont which is apparently not listed anywhere on Amazon or Goodreads.

'The Soviet Secret Police' by A.E. Andreevich. Published 1953.

If any of you book-sleuths cares to lend a hand tracking this down, that'd be mighty swell of ya

[[deleted user]]

Not sure about a hard copy... A friend, a book friend is making gentle inquires. But try "Google" searching, Andreevich + secret police. Then inspect the first hit...


http://complit.dukejournals.org/conte...

Happy hunting my friend.

[Feliks, Moderator]

That first one is a nifty link. Thanks Jimbo!

[[deleted user]]

Felix, here is an exchange with a very qualified "looker". Richard always finds the needle.

Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2015 12:02:38
Subject: Re: Research Needed

Richard,

Interesting find. A few of us "snoopers" also could not locate any trace of it.

Please don't lose any sleep or business over this. But I must admit with your report my interest in finding it or proving its existence has grown.

Jim


________________________________________
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2015 10:50:49
Subject: Re: Research Needed
Jim,

I tried the half dozen online antiquarian/rare wholesalers and dealers I use most often - surprisingly, there's no record of the book. Which is incredibly odd - usually there's some bibliographic data in place but availability is zero. In this case, there's just no trace.

Which means that I'm highly engaged now - nothing like a mystery. I'll keep you posted if I come up with something.

Richard

On Sat, Oct 31, 2015 at 12:06 PM,
Hi Richard,

Need to know if you have a hidden talent of hunting down rare reads? Have a social networking pal (Goodreads) who is looking for a copy of The Soviet Secret Police' by A.E. Andreevich. Published 1953.

Any tips on where to search or how to obtain copy would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

[Feliks, Moderator]

I'm very thankful for your assist! That's extremely thoughtful of ya. Bravo!

[Feliks, Moderator]

p.s. update to the info I provided: scrap the '1953' date estimate. I erred there (extremely fine print). No date is given in the citation. The book I'm reading, however, (by de Gramont) is a 1962 publication so, it must be prior to that.

[Feliks, Moderator]

p.s. for the mystery-book, maybe it is related to this author (I just did a quick search on Worldcat.org)

Soviet Russ. Stories of the '60s and '70s
by xx Andreevich Bochkarev
published 1977

Now that I think of it, 'Andreevich' maybe even an abrogation of Andreĭ Andreevich Gromyko

[[deleted user]]

Saw Gromyko pop up on some of my searches. Must admit I find it interesting but do tell. Do you still recommend the book?

[Feliks, Moderator]

Which one? Currently I'm only reading a paperback edition of Sanche De Gramont's 'Secret War' which I find very worthwhile indeed. Its from within those pages that I am pulling out all these other titles; most of which I'm simply unfamiliar with.

I wish I had ordered a hardback of de Gramont because the detail is so fine for print this small.

I myself have no interest in reading anything from Gromyko; or (said another way) I'd need a good reason to explore him. He's not germane to my interests. The book by AE Andreevich, however--I'd certainly like to get my hands on that one.

[[deleted user]]

Sorry, was referring to The Secret War...

[[deleted user]]

Have had horrible experiences trying to obtain a decent copy of The Secret War. Please advise on a know reputable source...

[Feliks, Moderator]

Hmmm, that so? I found a decent used one from Amazon. That's where I got mine. But then again I like 'well-worn' paperbacks. There's many copies of that type available there--are you restricting your buying choices to 'mint condition' or something like that?

Dismayed to hear this, in any case.

[[deleted user]]

Not at all... I have no other preferences then paperback. Tried ordering one off of the Amazon but it was cancelled by distributor so I moved to other sources. I will give them a second go...

[Feliks, Moderator]

by the way, for any of you budding authors writing action-thrillers set in modern-day Afghanistan, here's a great work of reference for ancient Afghan culture



and as far as fiction goes, the stirring wilderness drama:

(same author who wrote 'Belle duJour', as it happens)

[Roger]

A couple that have have been turned into novels are

The White Rabbit: The Secret Agent the Gestapo Could Not Crack
Which is an excellent read, and also highlights Germany during WWII.

Or there is Alone in Berlin
Not an espionage book really, but written by Hans Fellada who based a this on a true story of an ordinary couple fighting the Nazis.