Alex Sheppard

In a recent issue of the British ‘Bookseller’, a columnist wishing to explain the apparent lack of success in UK of Anthony Grey’s attempt to convince people that the late Harold Holt was a spy for the Chinese said ‘the fact is that the British public does not give a damn for Australian Prime Ministers’. Perhaps the reason for the comparative failure of the same book in Australia is that ... (read more)

It is a wise author who states clearly what his book is about and what it hopes to achieve. Some do this at the beginning of a book, some do it at the end. In either case it avoids the possibility of a reviewer or reader blaming the book for not being what it was never intended to be. The author of this book gets over this difficulty by setting out clearly in the last chapter, headed ‘Is there ... (read more)

This is such a good book, written in the best military fashion, with all points assembled in proper order but written with the wit and irony usually missing from military historians, that it is a pity it is not better designed. The title page really lacks finesse. But the illustrations and notes are very well-chosen and easy on the eye. It deals equally with civilian surveillance as with military ... (read more)