Under Every Leaf: How Britain Played the Greater Game from Afghanistan to Africa by William Beaver
The old Farsi expression summed it up: Under every leaf you will find an Englishman This is the story of the shadowy Intelligence Division of the British War Office and its unsung role in the formation of the Victorian Empire and imperial policy making from Asia to Africa. Focusing on the heady days between the Crimean War and the establishment of MI5 and MI6 in the early years of the twentieth century, this book tells how Britain was well served by an extremely sophisticated secret intelligence service which few even knew existed, then or now. Drawing from an encyclopaedic array of primary and little-known sources, Under every Leaf is a rollicking good read of brains over brawn, adventure, success and sacrifice, craftiness and commitment in the service of the greatest empire the world has ever known.