
Behind the Enigma
The Authorised History of GCHQ, Britain’s Secret Cyber-Intelligence Agency
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Narrated by:
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Charles Armstrong
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By:
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John Ferris
About this listen
Bloomsbury presents Behind the Enigma by John Ferris, read by Charles Armstrong.
'Fascinating … This monumental work completes the authorised picture of a century of British intelligence' BEN MACINTYRE, THE TIMES
'[A] revelatory look at the world of GCHQ … There is much in the book that illuminates' Mark Urban, Sunday Times
You know about MI5. You know about MI6.
Now uncover the mystery behind Britain’s most secretive intelligence agency, in the first ever authorised history of GCHQ.
For a hundred years, GCHQ – Government Communications Headquarters – has been at the forefront of innovation in national security and British secret statecraft. Famed for its codebreaking achievements during the Second World War, and essential to the Allied victory, GCHQ also held a critical role in both the Falklands Conflict and Cold War. Today, amidst the growing threats of terrorism and online crime, GCHQ continues to be the UK’s leading intelligence, security and cyber agency, and a powerful tool of the British state.
Based on unprecedented access to classified archives, Behind the Enigma is the first book to authoritatively tell the entire history of this most unique and enigmatic of organisations – and peer into its future at the heart of the nation’s security.
I enjoyed it thoroughly.
For Connoisseurs
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It is exceptionally detailed and it’s written well in that sense. Narrator I would say had as tough a time as the listener at times to stay focused due to acronyms and thread of the book. Overall I enjoyed it but found myself having to rewind and Re listen to some chapters. No fault to Narrator it’s a highly detailed history and clearly sanitised script due to security.
Tough one to rate
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The book is organised into sections covering different topics and time lines, and while I was reading it the news was released about the new Australia UK USA (AUKUS) agreement, and reading this book helped me perceive that such a deal can be seen as a natural progression from what has been in place for decades.
Many other reviews here seem to be rather negative, but I think that unfair - the content meets the promise of the title in my mind, and while the subject may not be of interest to all, I am surprised anyone who was attracted by the title was then disappointed by the content.
I also found the narrator did a brilliant job. Again some others have commented that there was not enough animation in the narration, but I prefer factual content read as it is done so here, focusing on clarity of delivery let me pull out of it what interested me.
I got a lot out of this book.
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All cloak, no dagger
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Didn't persevere with it.
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GCHQ?
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A name would spring up for example and I'd find myself wondering where this particular person had came into the story, and I'd have to track back. The reason said person was missed was because the narration sounds like a laboured chore.
Didn't finish it.
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Takes a potentially interesting subject and keeps it secret
Sterile, bland, dull.......
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30 hours of dull. No interesting information overall
Don’t waste your time I wish I hadn’t
Awful
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