The Secret State: Whitehall and the Cold War - Softcover

Hennessy, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141008350 ISBN 13: 9780141008356

Publisher: Penguin Global, 2004

Synopsis

As Cold War Britain came under the terrifying shadow of nuclear destruction, secret government plans were underway to ensure the survival of a chosen few.
Peter Hennessy's book draws on recently declassified intelligence and war-planning documents, and interviews with key officials, to reveal a chilling behind-the-scenes picture of the corridors of power when the world teetered on the brink of disaster. Who would have gone underground with the Prime Minister in the event of an attack? Where is their secret bunker? Under what circumstances would we retaliate? Where were the Soviets' UK targets thought to be? Whose finger was - and is - on the button? And what kind of world would have been left when the dust had settled and 'breakdown' had occurred ...?

About this title

About the Author:

Peter Hennessy is Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary, University of London.

Review:

Using recently declassified material, Hennessy reconstructs the picture of the Soviet threat which was presented to ministers from the last days of the Second World War to the 1960s. Includes previously unseen photographs of a secret government installation.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Global
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0141008350
• ISBN 13: 9780141008356
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320