title: The Spycatcher Affair
author:  Chapman Pincher 
description: Efforts by the British government to block publication of Peter Wright's Spycatcher (1987) included a civil suit against the disgruntled former assistant director of MI5, one of the British secret services, and his Australian publisher. In this intricate and convoluted account of the 1985-86 trial, in Sydney, Pincher ( Too Secret Too Long ) reveals how and why the British legal system and government were brought into disrepute and ridicule. Government ministers and senior officials whose reputations suffered during the affair (including cabinet secretary Robert Armstrong) were victims of a cult of secrecy, says the author, who forcefully denounces what he sees as nonsensical and highly dangerous government secrecy: "More than a sacred cow, it is a golden calf worshipped for its own sake." Pincher's reputation was among those called into question during the trial. A highly regarded, and highly critical, historian of MI5 and MI6, Pincher defends himself successfully, here, expressing cold, commanding scorn for Peter Wright. Illustrations. <br />Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  DIRTY TRICKS
  
  
  A novel
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapman Pincher
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  First published by Sidgwick and Jackson Limited in 1980
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © Chapman Pincher 1980
  
  
  
  
  
  This edition published in 2021 by Lume Books
  
  
  30 Great Guildford Street,
  
  
  Borough, SE1 0HS
  
  
  
  
  
  The right of Chapman Pincher to be identified as the author of this work has
  been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents
  Act, 1988.
  
  
  
  
  
  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
  a retrieval system, or transmitted in photocopying, recording or otherwise,
  without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Author’s Foreword](part0000_split_003.html#_Toc69742110)
  
  
  [Chapter One](part0000_split_004.html#_Toc69742111)
  
  
  [Chapter Two](part0000_split_005.html#_Toc69742112)
  
  
  [Chapter Three](part0000_split_006.html#_Toc69742113)
  
  
  [Chapter Four](part0000_split_007.html#_Toc697421