It all got très très grandiose last night, as Biteback trooped to the former home of British Military Intelligence for the launch of William Beaver’s Under Every Leaf: How Britain Played The Greater Game From Afghanistan to Africa (you see what I did there? ‘Trooped?’ WHAT LARKS!)
Rumours had been circulating in the office all day that a gourmet fish pie was to be ceremoniously cut and served, but in the end we were FORCED to settle for delicious canapés and champagne. Outrageous, that's what I say.
Commissioning editor, Michael Smith, was on hand to provide some expertise. Pointing out that many of the recent disputes between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office regard who is to blame for the current state of the war in Afghanistan, he read out an extract from the book, as Lord Salisbury, then Secretary of State for India, wrote to the Earl of Northbrook, Viceroy of India, in 1874:
'Her Majesty’s advisers cannot but be struck with the comparative
scantiness of the information which it is in your Excellency’s power
to supply. For knowledge of what passes in Afghanistan and upon its
frontiers they are compelled to rely mainly upon the indirect intelligence
which reaches them through the Foreign Office'.
As Michael pointed out, nothing much has changed, including the fact that Biteback continues to publish the very best books on intelligence... just sayin.
Anyway. How we ate, how we drank. How we laughed. William Beaver himself told guests of the fascinating history of the building. How we nodded. Men in uniform were in attendance. How we SWOONED.
Anyway. In case you’re actually more interested in the book than men in uniform, here’s everything you need to know.
We know more about the twentieth-century history of Britain's secret intelligence services than ever before, but next to nothing about their Victorian antecedents. This book fills that gap, telling the story of the Intelligence Division of the War Office from 1856 to 1909 – when MI6 was founded – and the hidden role that the Intelligence Division played in acquiring Britain's vast empire without a major European or Asian war. In examining its influence in the formation of imperial policy-making and execution, Under Every Leaf is also a rollicking good read, shedding new light on the reality behind the partition of Africa, the Great Game in Asia, brains over brawn, espionage, adventure and dedicated wholehearted commitment, sacrifice and service to the Imperial ideal.
p.s. make sure you check out this great review of the book from the Telegraph: 'an impressive insight into the world of Britain’s first intelligence officers'