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A Secret Well Kept: The Untold Story of Sir Vernon Kell, Founder of MI5

The United Kingdom`s domestic counter-intelligence and security agency, most commonly known as MI5, was founded in 1909 by Sir Vernon Kell KBE. Kell (`K` within the agency) not only founded MI5 but was also its Director for 31 years, the longest tenure of any head of a British government department during the twentieth century. Kell was also fluent in six foreign languages, making him arguably the most gifted linguist ever to head a Western intelligence agency. A Secret Well Kept was written by Kell`s wife, Constance, in the 1950s, and the manuscript has been a treasured family possession ever since. Constance`s story is endlessly fascinating: she tells of their life in China during the Boxer Rebellion, the formation of MI5 in 1909, the key characters, events and spy cases of Kell`s career, and his important work achieved for the country during two world wars. A modern-day preface from Kell`s great-granddaughter, introduction by Stewart Binns and notes from Dr Chris Northcott add historical context to this delightful and unparalleled insight into the personal life of an extremely powerful and important man.

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