Intelligence literature
Intelligence literature, sometimes referred to as espionage nonfiction, is a genre of non-fiction or historical literature, written in any language, that focuses on the intelligence field, and its most popular subfield known as espionage. This field of literature includes biographies and autobiographies of intelligence officers, historical research and analysis of intelligence operations and missions, studies of undercover work, policy and legal studies surrounding the fields of intelligence law, intelligence history, and national security law, academic and professional journals, essays, textbooks, and more. Other works of intelligence literature include official histories, official reports, tradecraft and technical manuals, declassified documents and archival materials, and oral histories and interviews.
The origins of intelligence literature
Intelligence literature is rooted in the original works of myth, folklore, oral tradition, political science and philosophy, as spycraft has always been a tool of statecraft, warfare, and diplomacy, and for the majority of its history, intelligence literature was wrapped-up into these genres. In ancient cultures, there often was no distinction between fiction and nonfiction. It took hundreds to thousands of years for it to become its own, unique, genre of literature.Ancient Egypt
The Story of Wenamun is a Hieratic Late Egyptian literary text that focuses on Wenamun, a priest of Amun at Karnak, is sent by the High Priest of Amun Herihor on a secret mission to the Phoenician city of Byblos to acquire lumber to build a new ship to transport the cult image of Amun. After visiting Smendes at Tanis, Wenamun stopped at the port of Dor ruled by the Tjeker prince Beder, where he was robbed. Upon reaching Byblos, he was shocked by the hostile reception he received there. When he finally gained an audience with Zakar-Baal, the local king, the latter refused to give the requested goods for free, as had been the traditional custom, instead demanding payment. Wenamun had to send to Smendes for payment, a humiliating move that demonstrates the waning of Egyptian power over the Eastern Mediterranean; a causative factor of a new nature can be seen in this ebbing of Egyptian power — the rise of Assyria and its intrusion into Phoenicia around the year 1100 BCE. After a wait of almost a year at Byblos, Wenamun attempted to leave for Egypt, only to be blown off course to Alashiya, where he was almost killed by an angry mob before placing himself under the protection of the local queen, whom he called Hatbi. At this point the story breaks off.Rome
Strategemata is a work by the Roman writer Frontinus, written in the 1st century, which focuses on military strategy, but does include discussions on deception and intelligence gathering. This book is more accurately defined as Military history, but includes within it sections on Intelligence history. The first section of this book is entitled "On Concealing One's Plans," and the second is entitled "On Discovering the Enemy's Plans," both of which are directly related to the fields of intelligence collection and counterintelligence.India
is an Ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise on statecraft, politics, economic policy and military strategy. The Arthashastra explores issues of social welfare, the collective ethics that hold a society together, advising the king that in times and in areas devastated by famine, epidemic and such acts of nature, or by war, he should initiate public projectsChina
In China, the author Sun Tzu is perhaps most well known for his seminal work, The Art of War. In the Art of War, Sun Tzu suggests tactics and strategies for spies, but in the broader conception of warfighting. The Art of War is an early inspiration for many intelligence officers and leaders of intelligence agencies, but it is not, on its own, a work of intelligence literature.The Crusades
During the Crusades, the Knights Templar, which was engaged in espionage activities in the Holy Land, might have published manuals on clandestine activities. However, after the Templar Order was disbanded in 1312 by Pope Clement V, many of their records were seized or destroyed. Some theorists speculate that if the Templars had intelligence manuals, they were either lost or kept secret by successor groups.The Renaissance: Raison d’état
writers in the 1500s, such as Niccolò Machiavelli, Giovanni Botero, and Giovan Battista Possevino published many treatises and manuals for statecraft, which did include literature surrounding the intelligence field, but might not be considered works of intelligence literature, but still bound in political science and philosophy.Perhaps the most persistent author of this period is Machiavelli, with his collection of works including The Prince and The Art of War, both of which have inspired generations of diplomats, politicians, and spies. The Prince, upon its release, shocked the readers of Europe because it presented a moral case for ill deeds in the time of war. Scholars often note that Machiavelli glorifies instrumentality in state building, an approach embodied by the saying, often attributed to interpretations of The Prince, "The ends justify the means". Fraud and deceit are held by Machiavelli as necessary for a prince to use.
Memoir and autobiography
The first known intelligence memoir (in English)
The first officially recognized, but not widely known, memoir in intelligence literature was Memoirs of Secret Service:, written by Matthew Smith in the 17th century. Prior to this, intelligence officers did not share their secrets – but Smith submitted his manuscript to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in order to defend himself against accusations that he had been incompetent and in league with Jacobites. in which he had been called to testify in front of the House of Lords. In his memoir, he accused Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury and his aide, James Vernon, of having been involved in a Jacobite assassination attempt. He opens his memoir with the following words:The book's bold accusations generated public interest and was even translated, but Parliament largely ignored it. In November 1699, Smith intensified his claims against the Earl of Shrewsbury in Remarks upon the D— of S—'s Letter to the House of Lords, which led to his brief imprisonment for breaching parliamentary privilege and the public burning of the pamphlet.
Despite setbacks, Smith continued publishing attacks, responding to Kingston's pamphlet with A Reply to an Unjust and Scandalous Libel in 1700. After William III’s death, he wrote a petition accusing Shrewsbury and James Vernon of treason and alleging that the late king had bribed MPs. However, fearing poor timing after William Fuller’s recent exposure as a fraud, he hesitated before submitting it to Speaker Robert Harley in March 1702. Harley ignored the claims, and with Shrewsbury overseas and Vernon out of office, the accusations faded. Smith’s fortunes later changed in 1703 when he was appointed judge-advocate of Jamaica, likely through the influence of the earl of Peterborough. However, little is known of his later years, and he is believed to have died before 1723.
Memoirs of the Secret Service of John Macky
was a Scottish spy and travel writer. Between 1688 and 1710 he ran a successful intelligence gathering network across the English Channel, principally concerned with Jacobite and French threats to England. He was also the author of several publications which reflected his travel, political outlook and access to leading figures of the period. Memoirs of the Secret Services of John Macky is a firsthand account of his espionage and political intelligence gathering activities during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.Macky, even though he was Scottish, provided intelligence to the English government about Jacobite activities and French military movements. His memoirs detail his observations and experiences during the reigns of William III and Queen Anne, offering insight into diplomatic maneuvering, spy networks, and court intrigues. His work provides an early example of structured intelligence reporting, reflecting the growing professionalization of espionage in Britain. The text also serves as an important primary source for researchers studying Jacobitism, Anglo-French relations, and the broader development of intelligence operations in early modern Europe. Despite its contested reliability, Memoirs of the Secret Services remains an essential reference in the history of espionage.
The Spycatcher Affair
The most famous controversial memoir in intelligence literature is likely Spycatcher: the Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer, by the British spy Peter Wright. This book caused a great controversy in the United Kingdom when it was released, as it detailed aspects of the intelligence field in the era of the Cambridge Five that were damaging to the British government.In this memoir, Wright alleges the presence of a Soviet mole within MI5, specifically accusing former Director-General Sir Roger Hollis. The book also delves into various covert operations and internal dynamics of British intelligence. Upon its release in 1987, the British government sought to suppress its distribution, leading to legal battles and debates over press freedom.
Recent revelations have shed light on the British government's internal handling of the affair. Declassified documents indicate that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher approved the controlled leak of information regarding the suspected mole, Sir Roger Hollis, to journalist Chapman Pincher. This strategic leak aimed to manage public perception and preempt the disclosures in Wright's forthcoming book. Additionally, these documents reveal that Cabinet Secretary Robert Armstrong provided misleading testimony during the Spycatcher trial, denying the orchestrated leak under oath.
The government's attempts to suppress Spycatcher inadvertently amplified its notoriety. While the book was banned in England, it remained available in other regions, including Scotland and Australia, leading to widespread public interest and debate. The affair not only highlighted internal tensions within British intelligence but also sparked discussions on press freedom, governmental transparency, and the public's right to information.