Espionage is an intriguing subject to most of us—an exciting, dangerous, hidden world of which we get only an occasional glimpse. Here at last is an A to Z reference that illuminates this entire fascinating and surprisingly extensive field. The only up-to-date encyclopedia of its kind now in print, it provides today's most complete, comprehensive, and easily accessible information on all important aspects of modern espionage—from Elizabethan times right up to the 1980s.

From Abel and Abwehr to Zimmermann, you'll find in depth coverage of:

• Individual spies—some famous, others little known—all playing for high stakes and many helping to change history. Here are the full, colorful stories of Mata Hari, Nathan Hale, Alger Hiss, Richard Sorge, Patience Wright, and hundreds more—including such surprises as Hollywood producer Boris Morros (a U.S. double agent working against the KGB) and Casanova (a spy for Louis XV).

• Incidents—such as Watergate, one of the century's most infamous cases of domestic espionage... spying activities during the Boxer Rebellion in China... the events leading up to Gavrilo Princip's assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the outbreak of World War I... the atomic spies during the Cold War... and many more.

• Organizations—from the KGB to the CIA and FBI. Structure and functions of each are covered in detail—plus special material, such as the pros and cons of the current controversy surrounding the CIA.

• Techniques—cryptograms, codes, and ciphers (including Ultra, the cryptological system that helyed save Britain during World War II) ... agents ... moles ... U-2 flights ... spy networks (starting with that of Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's spymaster) ... and spy satellites are just a few of the many techniques described and explained.

Throughout, the book is organized for fast access and easy use. Each article is thoroughly researched and clearly written—and, wherever possible, each presents its information in the same pattern, so you can find the answers you want almost at a glance. Cross-references and Further Reading lists follow most articles.

Unlike any other such book, Spy/Counterspy...
...covers spy activities during the 1970s and 1980s
...includes detailed coverage of both scientific and industrial espionage
...gives due prominence to women spies, often overlooked by other writers
...provides an introductory reading list in English, German, and French

Moreover, it offers first-time information you just won't find in other references on such important topics as:
* The Profumo affair—the sex and spy scandal that rocked the British government
* The accomplishments of Josephine Baker, the American expatriate entertainer who worked for the French Resistance during World War II
* Christopher Hollis—now suspected of having been a Russian counterspy at the same time he headed British counterespionage
* The Lavon scandal that resulted from a bungled operation in Egypt—and is still a subject of controversy in Israel

Espionage is virtually universal. It has had an enormous influence on history—deciding battles, coups, sometimes the fate of entire nations. Practically everyone—from spy buffs ... to professionals in intelligence ... to people who just enjoy good reading—will find the encyclopedia's coverage of this always enthralling subject as interesting as it is informative.