{"product_id":"real-special-relationship","title":"Real Special Relationship","description":"\u003cb\u003e'Fascinating analysis' Nigel West; 'Grippingly told, authoritative' \u003ci\u003eMail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e; 'Meticulously researched...a remarkably good read' John Brennan, former CIA Director; 'Excellent...a detailed, highly professional account' Sir John Scarlett, former MI6 Chief\u003cbr\u003e ​\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Special Relationship between America and Britain is feted by politicians on both sides of the Atlantic when it suits their purpose and just as frequently dismissed as a myth, not least by the media, which announces its supposed death on a regular basis. Yet the simple truth is that the two countries are bound together more closely than either is to any other ally.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In \u003ci\u003eThe Real Special Relationship\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003eMichael Smith\u003c\/b\u003e reveals how it all began, when a top-secret visit by four American codebreakers to \u003cb\u003eBletchley Park\u003c\/b\u003e in February 1941 - ten months before the US entered the \u003cb\u003eSecond World War\u003c\/b\u003e - marked the start of a close collaboration between the two nations that endures to this day. Once the war was over, and the \u003cb\u003eCold War\u003c\/b\u003e began, both sides recognised that the way they had worked together to decode German and Japanese ciphers could now be used to counter the \u003cb\u003eSoviet threat\u003c\/b\u003e. Despite occasional political conflict and public disputes between the two nations, such as during the \u003cb\u003eSuez crisis\u003c\/b\u003e, behind the scenes intelligence sharing continued uninterrupted, right up to the recent \u003cb\u003eRussian invasion of Ukraine\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Smith, the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eStation X \u003c\/i\u003eand having himself served in \u003cb\u003eBritish military intelligence\u003c\/b\u003e, brings together a fascinating range of characters, from \u003cb\u003eWinston Churchill \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003eIan Fleming \u003c\/b\u003eto \u003cb\u003eKim Philby\u003c\/b\u003e and\u003cb\u003e Edward Snowden\u003c\/b\u003e, who have helped shape the security of our two nations. Supported by in-depth interviews and an excellent range of personal contacts, he takes the reader into the mysterious workings of \u003cb\u003eMI6, the CIA\u003c\/b\u003e and all those who work to keep us safe. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  ","brand":"MediaPlace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57308529983870,"sku":"NW9781471186813","price":13.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1379\/1261\/files\/9781471186813.jpg?v=1778699924","url":"https:\/\/mediaplace.com\/en-eu\/products\/real-special-relationship","provider":"MediaPlace","version":"1.0","type":"link"}