Bodyguard of Lies

by Anthony Cave Brown

Book Overview

History : World War 2 This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 0553013114
• Release Date: May 1976
• Publisher: W.H. Allen / Virgin Books
• Length: 947 Pages

Customer Reviews

Please Note

Very good book but be aware it is Volume 1 and there is a second volume. Nowhere is that noted in the and stopping before D-day had occurred left me completely baffled. It is written by a journalist, not an historian so there are no footnotes. Interesting but tedious side bars to individuals that could had been edited out. On the whole, interesting but can't really take it to the bank, so to speak.

Truth, in this case, is more than stranger than fiction

"Bodyguard Of Lies" is one of the most compelling and important reads out there. Lovers of Clancy novels should put them away for a year and concentrate on some of the most real bizarre, yet important, machinations of espionage and counter-espionage ever created and implemented. What gives this phenomenal work its incredible allure is the knowledge that these creations of historical intelligence import occored only a little more than a half-decade ago. The book takes its title from Winston Churchill's remark regarding the crucial role of good intelligence, where he stated, "In war-time, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies." Using for his research information that had only been de-classified the previous year (1975), Anthony Cave Brown takes us through the minefield that was "Ultra", the Allies means of reading the secret ciphers of the Third Reich. "Ultra" was of such devastating importance that the entire city of Coventry was sacrificed in order to keep secret the fact that the Allies had, early on in the war, broken the German "Enigma" ciphers. This top secret cipher would time and time again put vital information directly into the hands of the Allies. It is safe to say that "Ultra" may have been the difference between victory and defeat. Brown also details what can only be referred to as the most convoluted espionage and counter-espionage schemes that only the minds of men at war for the highest stakes ever perceived could conceive of. In one instance, a false 'cadaver' was planted in an apparant shipwreck, replete with false identity papers, false obituary, false love letters, fake funeral, and, more importantly, false maps and information intended to persuade the enemy that they had stumbled upon ACTUAL information, and act accordingly. Brown relates other tales - some quite unsavory on both sides - for instance, Allied baiting of French resistance in order to convince the enemy of the plausibility of invasion (or non-invasion, as the case warrented) at a given place or time. Agents were sometimes dropped into situations where their 'handlers' knew that cover had been blown or compromised...all done to keep a certain game afloat or a certain secret intact. Perhaps the most interesting revelations, for me, in the book came from the 'dangling' of certain German Generals and Intelligence officials who were not simply sympathetic to the Allies, but in many cases actually working against Hitler and taking incredible, traitorous risks to help defeat him (the Schwarze Kapelle, or, in English, the Black Orchestra). Abwehr head Wilhelm Canaris is studied in depth, and his behavior, not to mention his persona alone may be one of the deepest level secrets of the Second World War. Churchill is again quoted at the start of the section on 'Special Means', "In the high ranges of Secret Service work the actual facts in many cases were in every resp

this book commands respect

I had to stop by and read the reviews on "Bodyguard of Lies". Wow,of 8 reviews, 7 gave it 5 stars and 1 gave it 4. The 4 star review, submitted in 1996, griped that the book was "historically inaccurate" because it did not consult "recently released" material.If that is the worst thing you can say about this book, then I'll take it. "Bodyguard..." was written in 1976 only a few years after the disclosure of ULTRA and other previously, highly classified secrets that did not come to light until decades after the war. In its humble defense, "Bodyguard of Lies" is not only the best book I have ever read on WWII or spies, but one of the best books I have ever read, period. I highly recommend this book to anyone with the slightest interest in not only WWII or espionage, but history and great writing; Brown is a writer and storyteller of the finest kind. Extremely well-documented and suspensefull, this book is far more gripping and compelling than anything Hollywood could ever come up with, and the best part is that the book is true, and "historically accurate". Read this book, then you too can write a rave review.

5 stars isn't enough for this amazing book!

This is one of the two or three most incredible books I have ever read. Seriously. It covers the deception that preceded Operation Overlord (D-DAY). When I say "cover" I mean completely and absolutely. This is probably the most comprehensive tome I've ever read. If you like WWII, or espionage or just good writing...you'll like this book. There has recently been a great deal of interest in "Between Silk And Cyanide" by Marks. That's a terrible book! This is a thousand times better; not even in the same league. If you do like this book then you've got to read "The Double-Cross System" by Masterson. That's another classic but so much earlier it doesn't reveal some of the previously-classified secrets that are the bread and butter of "Bodyguard."YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!

Bodyguard of Lies

Thorough research and a gripping rendition of history combine for a very readable book that clearly explains the intricate web of the most complex intelligence and counter-intelligence operation in World War II. Anthony Cave Brown does a tremendous job with this book. Don't let the length of this book get to you -- you won't know where the pages went once you start reading! I am a history buff, but learned a great deal in this reading. Highly recommend!

Bodyguard of Lies

This book's content brings into written history a perspective of WWII,its leaders, its vast material and weapons development which should be must reading for any specialist or policy advocate in the future. Underneath all planning by the Allies was the fact that the English knew every move of the Atlas powers and could keep this fact secret for the entire length of the war. The depth of research and organization of material is wonderful.I hope it will be reprinted.