Espionage

Children's Literature

At a time when conflicting ideologies dominated the world scene the Cold War was an age of espionage. Agents of various nations attempted to disrupt other governments, stole military secrets, and generally tried to ferret out any significant information they could. This covert means of gaining an advantage over an enemy spurred domestic security measures in many nations that altered the rights of citizens. Thus, espionage during the Cold War had a dualistic effect. The actions of spies subverted both efforts being made by hostile governments and the liberty of those people who lived in both capitalist and communist nations. In Espionage Jennifer Keeley tackles the complicated and secretive topic of spying during the Cold War. As part of the Lucent Books', "The Cold War" series, Ms. Keeley's book features a depth of scholarship and an illustrated format that typifies this informative series. In Espionage readers are given an opportunity to not only learn about some of the more striking spymasters and their efforts but also about the training and daily life of espionage agents. Indeed, perhaps those sections of this engaging work that deal with the training of spies and the technology of espionage are the most entertaining parts of this fine work. All in all, Jennifer Keeley's study of spying during the Cold War era is a book that will not only amplify student's understanding of that confrontational age but also help them to grasp how thin a margin for error there is when freedom is in question. 2003, Lucent Books, Romaneck