An exciting look into the "science" of espionage.

- How did the British "break" the German Enigma machine code?
- How do the secret devices of spies work?
- How did CIA and KGB agents survive the Cold War?
- What did the US intelligence agencies know before the September 11th attack?
- How are double agents recruited and interrogated?

From invisible ink to satellite tracking, and from Mata Hari to the War in Iraq and today's British spies in Putin's Russia, this stunning book reveals secret espionage stories, the implemented plans, and the means used by states and their agents to acquire and safeguard sensitive and extremely valuable information.

The spy is a mysterious person. His role ignites our imagination; his actions are thrilling and far from everyday life: false identities, secret devices, disguises, interrogation techniques, safe houses, death and survival scenarios, codes and cryptograms, forged documents, dead drop locations. His life depends on his ability to adapt to his new environment, think quickly, observe, and remember important details, gain the trust of foreigners, and avoid capture.
In the world of spies, technology and money play an important role, survival requires courage, determination, and agility, while personal life is only used as a diversionary activity.

From ancient times to the modern war in Iraq, espionage is the secret weapon used by states to promote their interests, undermine the strategy of their opponents, and win every kind of war.

David Owen thoroughly analyzes the art and history of espionage, from medieval Venice to modern-day Russia under President Putin, its methods of operation, and the breadth of its networks, patriots, profiteers, and traitors. With rich photographic material, previously confidential documents, and countless real espionage stories, the book sheds light on the daily challenges faced by the personalities and priorities of past spies, as well as some who are still among us.

Moses sent his "spies" to the Promised Land to learn about the people, the land, and its fertility. The Venetians established their power in the eastern Mediterranean by spying on the regions of their commercial rivals. In 16th century England, Queen Elizabeth's espionage revealed countless conspiracies aimed at removing her from power. In the English and American civil wars, the Russian Revolution, the two World Wars, the turbulent decades of the Cold War, the American invasion of Iraq, and the war against terrorism, spies reveal weaknesses in the enemy's defense and gather information about its situation.

Hidden within the organization of the enemy, the commercial competitor, the opposing state, the alien faith, spies have proven to be a necessary "tool" for victory.

Modern techniques in information gathering are far from those available to the classical spy of empires, monarchies, and the Cold War: quantum cryptography, satellites, remote-controlled aircraft, infrared scanning, radio locators capable of monitoring one hemisphere, signal traffic analysis, radio message and electronic mail reading, and countless other known and classified methods.

As technology develops at an exponential rate, it is certain that the world of espionage will include even more innovative ways of finding information.