For People Who Devour Books

Oct 2003

Britain, Espionage, Military history

Alistair Horne

A Twentieth-Century Gentleman

Alistair Horne

By Strength Alone?

Intelligence In War: Knowledge Of The Enemy From Napoleon To Al-Qaeda

By John Keegan

Hutchinson 480pp £25

THIS EXCELLENT, AND highly readable, book is vintage Keegan - though perhaps not quite premier cru. Much of Intelligence in War harks back to the author's favourite battles (notably Midway, 1942), about which he has written memorably. His many fans, though they may disagree with his conclusions, will not be disappointed.

Keegan's main theme - which he reiterates, with force - is that, in war, it is force and not foreknowledge (ie intelligence) tl1at counts. With his usual engaging candour he admits his prejudice against spookery, declaring in the very first line: 'I have tried to steer clear of the intelligence