Legacy of Ashes

The History of the CIA

Tim Weiner author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd

Published:1st Mar '12

Should be back in stock very soon

Legacy of Ashes cover

All-powerful, brilliant, decisive, ruthlessly effective ... this is the image of the CIA as portrayed in countless films and novels. It is wrong.

This shocking book, based on thousands of declassified documents and interviews with agents at all levels, shows the reality behind the glamorous myth: a blundering, chaotic and dangerously incompetent organization, so ineffective it was nicknamed 'Can't Identify Anything' by Nato forces. In a story of botched coups, missed targets, lost operatives and fatal errors, Tim Weiner shows how the CIA now poses a threat not only to the security of the US, but the world.

This extraordinary story reads like tragedy and thriller. Impeccably sourced, utterly absorbing, dazzling and very, very dark * Time Out *
This racy history reveals the CIA as a secret service to make Smiley weep and Bond howl in horror * Daily Telegraph *
Combines thrilling storytelling with terrifying revelations -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * New Statesman, Books of the Year *
Weiner's riveting history of the CIA contains dozens of jaw-dropping incidents ... astonishing * Evening Standard, Books of the Year *
Timely, immensely readable, and highly critical -- Mark Bowden, author of 'Black Hawk Down'
Marvellous ... that every quote is also on the record is a testament to his skill -- Steve Coll, author of 'Ghost Wars'
Winner of the National Book Award * Prizes and awards *

  • Winner of National Book Award.

ISBN: 9780241956236

Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 37mm

Weight: 579g

832 pages