In surveying the books on my shelves, I have been identifying those works which have thus far escaped my full and intensive attention. One such tome was Spycatcher, the "memoirs" of the former British intelligence (MI5) officer Peter Wright. This book is perhaps best remembered for the media and political storm which accompanied its original publication back in the 1980s.
Wright provides some enlightening biographical information, with hints that he didn't altogether fit the typical pattern of a British intelligence office from those days, in terms of background and outlook.
It is the case that since the book was published, some observers have sought to question the veracity of Wright's views concerning the supposed high-level Soviet penetration of MI5. I did make allowances for the criticisms of Wright and his book, but I still found it to be an illuminating and interesting read. The tone of the book is rather less "antagonistic" and uniformly "truculent" than I had anticipated.
On the surface, Wright seems sincere and constructive in what he says about the shortcomings in procedure and methodology within the security services, both before and during his time, and he seems to have been world-weary and pragmatic from quite an early stage. His recollections also bring home the relentless, all-pervasive nature of Cold War espionage, but also how thoroughly mundane and 'routine' most of the activity actually was.
As I worked my way through Spycatcher, I found myself wondering to what extent espionage was regarded as a 'game' and an 'end' in itself, rather than as a means to an end. After all, the operatives were supposed to be, ultimately, acting in our interests, but maybe the thrill and stimulus of the 'game' were required to enable the spies and officers to function in such as way as to be effective in discharging their duties.
More than a little space is taken up with less than thrilling descriptions of how certain technical gadgetry was developed, though things are enlivened by amusing anecdotes about how such equipment was installed and concealed. Some of the innovations sounded distinctly 'James Bond', others more 'Heath Robinson'.
As someone whose world-view has shifted to the left of centre in recent times, due to personal experiences and lengthy study and contemplation, I was occasionally left wondering about the purpose and the result of the British espionage and counter-espionage activity.
Moral and ethical misgivings apart, it is impossible not to admire the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the operatives. Whatever we may think of the motives behind their activities, it plainly required intellect, finesse and no little resilience.
I quite liked Peter Wright's stories about his interactions with notable figures in the American intelligence community, especially James Angleton.
A feature of the story, particularly in Wright's early days in the service, was the apparent informality of how he and his colleagues went about accomplishing their tasks; utilizing contacts and networking to obtain assistance and expedite investigations. The world seems to have been less rigidly "procedural" back then.
Occasionally, Wright places counterespionage episodes into a broader strategic or geopolitical context, such as the implications for arms control. These were some of the most impressive passages in the entire book.
The perception which emerges overall is that Soviet Union was "on the front foot" for the majority of the time, although in truth this does not come as a drastic revelation to me in 2021. One system was on the defensive, some might say by its very nature.
Whatever the substance of the book's central claims, it is difficult not to be captivated by imaginings of what it was like in intelligence and related circles, especially between the world wars. The idealism, the turbulence of the times, and also the feverishly tenuous existence of some of the individuals involved. Being righteous and committed was not always the tranquil and easy route.
I have to say that there is real drama in the chapters which deal with important interrogations, or with meetings which Mr Wright attended with luminaries of the secret world. Equally, one can sense the frustration when politics, or even more sinister motives, inhibited the path to efficiency or justice. It may be the case that, in this arena, objective truth is an elusive thing.
There is something rather poignant and affecting about the closing chapters, as Wright's career draws to its close. There is a changing of the guard, a shifting of priorities within the security services, and loose ends remaining unresolved. We also gain an idea of how the intelligence agencies "interfaced" with Whitehall, and the intrigues which this entailed.
Even when taking parts of the book with a pinch of salt, I found Spycatcher to be quite gripping, and I am glad that I took the trouble to read it in full.
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