Secret Warfare

The modern perception is that special operations forces – like the SAS – were pioneered and developed by the British Army during and after the Second World War. The reality is that many of the techniques in current use date back hundreds of years, whilst the first recorded ‘special operation’ led to the fall of Troy. In ‘Secret Warfare’ Adrian Weale unravels the complex evolution of modern special forces and provides a comprehensive overview of how they have reached their current position as a critical strategic factor for military planners. Using interviews with participants and archive sources, ‘Secret Warfare’ is an authoritative and accurate history of these secretive organisations.

Book Author

Adrian-weale Adrian Weale was born in London in 1964 and educated at the Latymer Upper School, York University and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He served for several years as a military intelligence officer in the regular Army, before leaving to pursue a career as a writer and historian. Since then he has written eight non-fiction books under his own name, and ghost written several more, primarily for former Special Forces personnel. In addition, he has written widely for the UK national press and is a regular broadcaster on BBC TV and radio, specialising in military and intelligence related ...
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Book Reviews

  • David Fairhall, The Guardian
    "A refreshingly cool antidote to the unquestioning adulation and hype that sometimes distorts the reputation of these elite forces."
  • Yorkshire Post
    "A balanced and valuable addition to a field where myth and jingoism too often outstrip honesty."
  • TLS
    "As an analysis of the SAS, its operations and effectiveness, Weale's book is authoritative."
  • The Scotsman
    "Adrian Weale's account of 100 years of special operations is already notorious...More than just a cold shower for Tory masculinity, it offers a thoughtful, challenging and by no means unadmiring consideration of the work special forces have done."
  • The Independent
    "Written in the terse, knowing patois of the military expert, this history of Special Operations Forces has some surprises up its sleeve."
  • The Express
    "Serious critical analysis that puts the whole shooting match in perspective."
  • The Times
    "Secret Warfare is altogether different from the blood-and-thunder histories which have become tiresomely familiar. Adrian Weale has attempted a serious history of special forces and has come up with some conclusions which belie the widely held view that this extraordinary breed of soldier is the answer to ever commanding officer's dream."