About the Author

Terry Crowdy has a life long passion for history which was first kindled working on the Fort Amhurst restoration project in the Medway Towns on the coast of England, where he spent his school summer vacations as a fortress tunnel guide. Through this association he developed a passionate interest in the Napoleonic Wars and participated in many of the bicentennial celebrations marking the wars of the French Revolution. His enthusiasm led to significant research in the French military archives at the Chateau de Vincennes near Paris. Terry became equally passionate about the history of 'Secret War' - in particular military espionage - a subject he feels is too often overlooked. After a long stint as bass guitarist for the rock group "Soma," Terry put pen to paper and is now the author of a number of books and articles on military history. He lives in Kent, England. The author lives in Kent, UK.

Reviews

"This is an excellent source covering the history of espionage from beginning to the present day... it is extremely readable, entertaining, and educational. It is one of the better nonfiction books this reviewer has read in recent times." --Timothy Baghurst, The Traveler"Intelligence operations are a hot topic. But since most recent books have a more narrow or current focus, a popular account of the high points in espionage through the ages is welcome... Crowdy has published works with Osprey on the French military during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, and these sections are among the strongest. Also interesting is the section on Germany's infiltration of France before World War I... certainly suitable for personal, public and undergraduate libraries." --Glen Ellyn, Library Journal"[Crowdy] reflects his publisher's expanding horizons in this survey of espionage from ancient times to America's invasion of Iraq... this is a work of narrative and anecdote... and succeeds within that context... The development of professional secret services in early modern Europe segues into the often-overlooked role of intelligence in the Revolutionary/Napoleonic era, making for tales of spy and counterspy that are the most interesting in the book." --Publishers Weekly (June 2006)

This is an excellent source covering the history of espionage from beginning to the present day... it is extremely readable, entertaining, and educational. It is one of the better nonfiction books this reviewer has read in recent times. "Timothy Baghurst, The Traveler" Intelligence operations are a hot topic. But since most recent books have a more narrow or current focus, a popular account of the high points in espionage through the ages is welcome... Crowdy has published works with Osprey on the French military during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, and these sections are among the strongest. Also interesting is the section on Germany's infiltration of France before World War I... certainly suitable for personal, public and undergraduate libraries. "Glen Ellyn, Library Journal" [Crowdy] reflects his publisher's expanding horizons in this survey of espionage from ancient times to America's invasion of Iraq... this is a work of narrative and anecdote... and succeeds within that context... The development of professional secret services in early modern Europe segues into the often-overlooked role of intelligence in the Revolutionary/Napoleonic era, making for tales of spy and counterspy that are the most interesting in the book. "Publishers Weekly (June 2006)""

"[Crowdy] reflects his publisher's expanding horizons in this survey of espionage from ancient times to America's invasion of Iraq... this is a work of narrative and anecdote... and succeeds within that context... The development of professional secret services in early modern Europe segues into the often-overlooked role of intelligence in the Revolutionary/Napoleonic era, making for tales of spy and counterspy that are the most interesting in the book." -"Publishers Weekly" (June 2006)
"Intelligence operations are a hot topic. But since most recent books have a more narrow or current focus, a popular account of the high points in espionage through the ages is welcome... Crowdy has published works with Osprey on the French military during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, and these sections are among the strongest. Also interesting is the section on Germany's infiltration of France before World War I... certainly suitable for personal, public and undergraduate libraries." -Glen Ellyn, "Library Journal"
"This is an excellent source covering the history of espionage from beginning to the present day... it is extremely readable, entertaining, and educational. It is one of the better nonfiction books this reviewer has read in recent times." -Timothy Baghurst, "The Traveler"

"Intelligence operations are a hot topic. But since most recent books have a more narrow or current focus, a popular account of the high points in espionage through the ages is welcome... Crowdy has published works with Osprey on the French military during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, and these sections are among the strongest. Also interesting is the section on Germany's infiltration of France before World War I... certainly suitable for personal, public and undergraduate libraries." -Glen Ellyn, "Library Journal"
"This is an excellent source covering the history of espionage from beginning to the present day... it is extremely readable, entertaining, and educational. It is one of the better nonfiction books this reviewer has read in recent times." -Timothy Baghurst, "The Traveler"