David Stafford is widely recognized as one of the preeminent writers on the subject of British secret intelligence. Compiled through interviews with ex-operatives breaking long silence on the subject, "Secret Agent" is the in-depth account of how the British, facing World War II, created the Special Operations Executive to coordinate subversion and sabotage tactics against the enemy. Disguise, deception, bribery, explosives, guerilla warfare, and even assassination were on the agenda, and Stafford thrillingly details not only how operatives were recruited, but their daring operations, the radio and coding systems that kept them in touch with London, and the James Bond-style gadgets designed to help them carry out their missions.