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Spycraft: Tricks and Tools of the Dangerous Trade from Elizabeth I to the Restoration

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A fascinating exploration of the devious tricks and ingenious tools used by early modern spies―from ciphers to counterfeiting, invisible inks to assassination
 
Early modern Europe was a hotbed of espionage, where spies, spy-catchers, and conspirators pitted their wits against each other in deadly games of hide and seek. Theirs was a dangerous trade―only those who mastered the latest techniques would survive.
 
In this engaging, accessible account, Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman explore the methods spies actually used in the period, including disguises, invisible inks, and even poisons. Drawing on a vast array of archival sources, they show how understanding the tricks and tools of espionage allows us to re-imagine well-known stories such as the Babington and Gunpowder plots. Exposing the murky world of spies, they demonstrate how the technological innovations of petty criminals, secretaries, and other hitherto invisible actors shaped the fate of some of history’s most iconic figures.
 
Spycraft explains how early modern spies sought to protect their own secrets while exposing those of their enemies, showing the reader how to follow in their footsteps.

Review

“Le Carré fans will find Spycraft anything but stodgy and over-long. It opens with a superbly vivid account.”—Jonathan Bate, The Telegraph

“Most enjoyable of all is the epilogue of instructions for invisible inks, codes and poisons, responsibility for the use of which ‘resides with the reader and the reader alone.’”—Pippa Bailey, New Statesman

“A diverting history and how-to manual.”—Harper’s Magazine

“Spycraft is an excellent book, accessibly written, profoundly researched, cleverly illustrated and immensely readable. It has in it the ingredients of a wonderful documentary series.”—Pete Davidson, Literary Review

“A rich and roving evaluation of the underhand operations that were frequently conducted in the Early Modern world. A brilliantly researched survey.”—Unseen Histories

“This original and compelling book delves deep into early modern spycraft as it was actually practised. Techniques of letterlocking, the making and breaking of seals, encryption and invisible ink are all revealed in forensic detail. This is richly textured history, written with verve and a real appreciation for the source material.”—John Cooper, author of The Queen’s Agent

“Akkerman and Langman present a highly readable account of the really practical aspects of spycraft in an accessible and captivating way. An engaging and endlessly fascinating volume.”—James Daybell, author of Women Letter-Writers in Tudor England

“A fascinating deep dive into early modern espionage techniques, a world of forgery, cipher wheels, secret letters written with invisible inks, and poison drawn from vipers and toads. Akkerman and Langman have produced nothing less than the origin story of James Bond’s Q-Branch.”—Charles Cumming, bestselling author of the BOX 88 series

‘Highly readable ... Engaging and endlessly fascinating’ - James Daybell, author of Women Letter-Writers in Tudor England.

‘Superbly vivid ... reveals a hidden world’ 4* – Jonathan Bate in The Telegraph

‘A textual tour de force’ – Jackie Eales in History Today

‘A rich and roving evaluation of the underhand operations that were frequently conducted in the Early Modern world. A brilliantly researched survey’— Unseen Histories

‘There is joy on every page’ – Iona Mclaren in The Spectator

‘A classic and incisive monograph ... Absorbing, illuminating and entertaining’ – Diarmaid MacCulloch in the TLS

‘We are indebted to Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman for revealing just how consequential a letter could be, whether real or fake’ – Diarmaid MacCulloch in the TLS

‘Enlightening’ – Alexander Glover in the Irish Daily Mail

‘I was thrilled by Spycraft too, an outstanding, very readable and original work of scholarship’ – Jackie Eales on Twitter

‘The authors deserve great praise for their research & their sharing of such intriguing stories.’ – History Book Chat (blog)

‘A tremendous book’ – History Book Chat on Twitter

‘Full-on Spygasm!’ – Will Tosh on Instagram

From the Back Cover

A fascinating exploration of the devious tricks and ingenious tools used by early modern spies―from ciphers to counterfeiting, invisible inks to assassination

Review:

4.9 out of 5

97.14% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars Impossible to put down.

g. · 10 July 2024

This is a work of serious scholarship that nevertheless rips along with all the headlong torrent of rollicking incident and drama of The Three Musketeers.In fact, one would scour Dumas, or Le Carré - or for that matter, George R.R.Martin - in vain for characters half as vivid and unforgettable as, say, Peter Bales (C17th Barnum of forgery) or Arthur Gregory (Fleming's Q, as portrayed by Wile E. Coyote), or plot twists as snakey and audacious.The book is particularly strong when it immerses the reader in the practical mechanics of Elizabethan tradecraft - a great deal of which, one infers, must have been verified experimentally at first hand - but the erudition never drags. The material is gleefully colourful - from prayer books concealing proto-Derringers triggered by a riband bookmark to viper wine and poisoned gloves: the authors were quite clearly having the time of their lives and this is thoroughly, irresistibly, infectious. HBO commissioning editors please form an orderly queue — this is not a book which discreetly hints at screen potential, it practically insists upon it.Intriguing, in this bravura history, resoundingly *is*.

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting!

p.g.t. · 15 August 2024

A riveting account of early modern spycraft - the hidden world of 16th/17th espionage. So well written, I was completely engrossed

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and inspiring book

E. · 28 July 2024

This is such a treat, whether to read for pleasure in one sitting or for ongoing reference. And it really does glow in the dark!

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing account of intrigue

G. · 4 October 2024

Forget James Bond . This is the real thing, and it’s a tribute to human ingenuity

5.0 out of 5 stars The Early Craft Of Spying

H. · 30 July 2024

The book covers events during the period between the mid 1500's & 1600's. A time when it would be a quill & not an exploding pen that could bring down your target. Where forgers & blackmailers had learnt how to copy signatures & handwriting, which would be hard to prove otherwise.Incredibly even by this period, the use of ciphers & codes had been around for centuries.Readers will learn about the early use of disguises by both men & women, which often involved pretending to be the opposite sex.Should a weapon also need to be discreetly carried, then there was some ingenious techniques that were used.This is just a sample of some of the subjects covered in this fascinating book, which also includes many great photos throughout.It might not be about car chases & gun fights, but you will come away from this book having learnt a great deal more. It is hard not to admire the ingenious craft of those early spies.Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Spycraft takes you on a roller coaster ride across the Tudor period of espionage

P.G.S. · 25 July 2024

Langman and Akkerman take you through a roller coaster ride across the Tudor period of espionage. Spying became an art form and was transformed through new technologies developed over this period. Langman and Akkerman are the new Q's with examples of how spying was used in many of the historical events of the period - from Guy Fawkes to Babington Plots. It is very readable but with academic rigour and credibility. L & A discover new spycrafts and open up our world to early spying. As readable as an Ian Fleming novel underpinned with academic credibility.

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging dive into early espionage

I.N. · 12 July 2024

"Spycraft" by Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman offers an engaging dive into early espionage, revealing the ingenious methods and tools used by spies. I learned a lot through the authors' archival research. It was illuminating. History's clandestine operations were made vivid and accessible. I recommend this captivating read for history and/or espionage enthusiasts.

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Spycraft: Tricks and Tools of the Dangerous Trade from Elizabeth I to the Restoration

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