The Dictionary of Espionage

"In this accessibly written book, Washington author Joseph C. Goulden illuminates and defines much of the standard jargon of the intelligence community with refreshing asides about many of spying's urban legends." — The Washington Times

What's a black bag job, a dead-letter drop, a honey trap? Who invented the microdot, and why do they call Green Berets "snake-eaters"? More than just an alphabetical series of definitions, this volume offers a fascinating insider's view of the lingo and operations of the CIA and the FBI, MI5 and MI6, Mossad, the KGB, and other top-secret organizations.


A compelling overview of the world of espionage from World War II to the present, this reference was assembled by a former intelligence operative. Loaded with anecdotal incidents that provide entertainment as well as information, it offers page-turning excitement from the clandestine world of spies and spying. A new Foreword by Peter Earnest, executive director of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC, presents up-to-date insights.