Agents, Aliens & Spies: A Secret History of British Intelligence

From the shadowed courts of the Tudors to the encrypted battlefields of the twentieth century, Agents, Aliens & Spies reveals the extraordinary, and often hidden, evolution of Britain’s intelligence services. Drawing on meticulous research and vivid historical storytelling, Philomena Liggins traces how monarchs, ministers, rebels, codebreakers and double agents shaped a clandestine world that would ultimately define national security.

Beginning with the cunning Tudor spymasters — Morton, Wolsey, Cromwell, Walsingham and Cecil — the book exposes the plots, betrayals and political manoeuvring that kept England’s rulers on the throne. As centuries unfold, readers witness the rise of the King’s Post, the machinations of

Mary, Queen of Scots, the Gunpowder Plot, and the civil-war intrigues that transformed intelligence into a tool of statecraft.

Entering the Victorian age and the dawn of global communications, Liggins charts the birth of Special Branch, the early “spy mania” gripping the nation, and the formation of the Secret Service Bureau — the seed from which MI5 and MI6 would grow. The First and Second World Wars bring

gripping accounts of German agents, the courage of Nurse Edith Cavell, the myth and reality of Mata Hari, the brilliance of Room 40, the triumphs of Bletchley Park, and the daring operations of the SOE and Double Cross System.

Rich with character, drama, and insight, Agents, Aliens & Spies is a sweeping narrative that uncovers the human stories behind Britain’s secret battles. It is an essential read for anyone fascinated by espionage, history, or the hidden machinery of power.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App