Intelligence in War: Knowledge of the Enemy from Napoleon to Al-Qaeda

Renowned military historian John Keegan returns with another invaluable offering in Intelligence in War, a study encompassing the effect of good intelligence on military operations. Across a range of historical vignettes ranging from Admiral Horatio Nelson’s chase of the French Mediterranean fleet in 1798 through to the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II, Keegan’s analysis of these six campaigns and battles illuminates how quality intelligence, well-applied, serves to shift the course of warfare. Crucially, Keegan acknowledges that despite its valuable contribution, military intelligence can never be the sole determinant of battlefield success – and yet Intelligence in War reinforces that gathering and judiciously applying intelligence remains a vital tool in warfare across history.