Shadow, Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate.
Bob Woodward. ppbk

Much of the interest in this yarn by Woodward, the Watergate hack, centres around Bill Clinton, his lies, gropes, and the machinations to keep him from a successful impeachment. Frighteningly, much of his presidency, and that of his aides, was given over to protecting himself from the Lewinsky accusations, and Whitewater. And Ireland, gets mentioned, once, despite the former president's role in the peace process. Old Man Bush, Reagan, Ford and Carter, also get the razor treatment; men with feet of clay, which is perhaps the way we like them!
Paul Murray

The Second Oldest Profession,
Spies and Spying in the Twentieth Century.
Phillip Knightley. Pimlico. £ 14.99.stg.

Knightley's wonderful book highlights yet again that intelligence has rarely anything to do with Intelligence as he weaves exciting tales of mishaps, tragedy, snobbery, jealousy and not a little bravery in the world's Secret Services. From the Soviet Union, to Britain and the United States he outlines how political leaders distrusted their spooks, often with justification, and how internecine strife even between allies blunted war efforts. Nearer to home, we learn how Britain's upper classes were quite willing to betray heart and home for the Communist dream.
Paul Murray