The Life and Mysterious Death of Ian MacKintosh: The Inside Story of The Sandbaggers and Television's Top Spy
“The Life and Mysterious Death of Ian MacKintoshcan be read on several levels: as a book on popular culture as exhibited in a 1970s television show, as a window into understanding the ethical dilemmas faced by the espionage profession, and as a biography of a man who was enigmatic in both the way he lived and died. Robert Folsom writes in an easy style that allows the reader to follow along from the alleyways behind the Iron Curtain to the London studios of the BBC to the wilds of Alaska. This is the story of an insider who had both access to British intelligence work and internal conflict accepting how it is conducted.”—Jan Goldman, editor of theInternational Journal of Intelligence Ethicsand founder of the International Ethics Intelligence Association“Essential reading for any student of the cloak-and-dagger world. This book unravels the fascinating tale of one of the most important fictional representations of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service.”—Richard J. Aldrich, author ofGCHQ: The Uncensored Story of Britain’s Most Secret Intelligence Agency“ThroughThe Sandbaggers, Ian MacKintosh gave the world one of its most thoughtful, challenging, satisfying, and convincing espionage dramas, a television series at least the equal of literary tales by such figures as John le Carré, Len Deighton, and Ian Fleming. In this well-researched and engaging book, Folsom provides an account of MacKintosh and his work that is just as thoughtful, challenging, and satisfying.”—Philip H. J. Davies, author ofMI6 and the Machinery of SpyingandIntelligence and Government in Britain and the United States“Robert Folsom’s excellent book is a fascinating investigation into the mysterious death of the creator of one of the most authentic spy series ever seen on TV. Even now, former intelligence officer Ian MacKintosh’s original outline forThe Sandbaggersreveals more authentic detail on the operations of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service than most of the so-called exposés of MI6.”—Michael Smith, author ofSix: The Real James Bonds