THE SECRET STATE - Whitehall and the Cold War (First edition, fifth impression)

Peter Hennessy

ISBN 10: 0713996269 / ISBN 13: 9780713996265

Published by Allen Lane / The Penguin Press, London, 2002

About this Item

A fifth impression of the true first edition, published in 2002 by Allen Lane, in near fine condition. A very successful publication, this copy with the number '5' on the printer's page. With 24 monochrome photographs on 16 pages.

***Near fine in black cloth-covered boards with gilttitles to the spine. The boards are nice and clean, and the gilt is still beautifully bright. Head and tail of spine remain uncreased. No creases or bumps. Corners sharp. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Page block edges clean (just lightly foxed). Internally also near fine with no inscriptions. Interior pages are clean. No foxing. No creases or tears. Illustrated endpapers showing 'Top Secret' documents.

***In a near fine colour-illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £16.99 on the front flap. The dustwrapper is complete, with just some rubbing and very light creases at the extremities. No chips, serious creases or tears. No fading. Dustwrapper clean and bright. ***240mm x 160mm. 234 pages including a detailed section of Notes and an Index at the back of the book.

***'Using recently declassified material from the Joint Intelligence Committee and its analysts, Hennessy reconstructs the picture of the Soviet threat that was presented to ministers from the last days of the Second World War to the 1960s. He maps the size and shape of the Cold War state which was built in response to that perceived threat, and traces the arguments which successive generations of ministers, the military and civil servants have used to justify the British nuclear capability. (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper)

***'Peter John Hennessy, Baron Hennessy of Nympsfield, KG, FBA (born 28 March 1947) is an English historian and academic specialising in the history of government. Hennessy co-founded the Institute of Contemporary British History in 1986. From 1992 to 2000, he was Professor of Contemporary History at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. From 1994 to 1997, he gave public lectures as Professor of Rhetoric at Gresham College, London. From 2001, he has been Attlee professor of contemporary British history at Queen Mary, University of London. His analysis of post-war Britain, Never Again: Britain 1945-1951, won the Duff Cooper Prize in 1992 and the NCR Book Award in 1993. In 2026, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter by King Charles III.' (Wiki)

***A fifth impression of this true first edition - a fascinating study of the inner workings of Government, and the Joint Intelligence Committee - the subject of which (Russia's nuclear threat to the UK and Europe) is still very relevant today. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Seller Inventory # 9716

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE SECRET STATE - Whitehall and the Cold War (First edition, fifth impression)
• Publisher: Allen Lane / The Penguin Press, London
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0713996269
• ISBN 13: 9780713996265
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition
• Printing: Fifth Impression
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • First Editions
  • Political & Social History
  • Atomic History & Literature

About this title

Synopsis

Peter Hennessy is widely acknowledged to be one of the most entertaining British historians now writing. But the subject of his new book is far from conventionally engaging. Based on primary archival research and interviews with participants, for which Hennessy is also renowned, it examines in detail the top-secret retaliation procedures that were put in place should the UK be attacked in a nuclear war, and what the planners thought the consequences of such a war might be. Using recently declassified material from the Joint Intelligence Committee and its analysts, Hennessy reconstructs the picture of the Soviet threat that was presented to ministers from the last days of the Second World War to the 1960s. He maps the size and shape of the Cold War state which was built in response to that perceived threat, and traces the arguments which successive generations of ministers, the military and civil servants have used to justify the British nuclear capability. In which circumstances would the Prime Minister authorize the use of nuclear force and how would his orders be carried out? At which stage in a thermonuclear exchange would the government and the country break down? Who would have gone underground with the Prime Minister and the War Cabinet and where was the immensely secret installation they would have gone to? What was the Queen told - and when - about the possible end of her kingdom? The memory of these questions, and of the nuclear threat over their lives, is still very vivid to every adult in Britain. Peter Hennessy provides the best answers we have yet had to them.

About the Author

Peter Hennessy is Professor of Contemporary history at Queen Mary and Westfield College. His previous books include The Prime Minister: The Office and Its Holders Since 1945, Never Again: Britain 1945-1951 (winner of the 1993 NCR Prize) and Whitehall.