Books

Book review: Operation Chiffon charts the Troubles as seen from an English perspective

This retelling of British intelligence strategy in the North may surprise some Irish readers

Martin McGuinness: Peter Taylor’s book highlights the crucial role played by the Republican in paving the way toward the permanent ceasefire and Good Friday Agreement. Picture: Getty

This book by veteran BBC reporter Peter Taylor is a fascinating insight into the manner in which the seeds for the Good Friday Agreement were sown in the North.

Written by an English journalist, Operation Chiffon is an Anglo-centric account of the Troubles and focuses for the main part on the role that British intelligence operatives in both MI5 and MI6 played in attempting a dialogue with the Provisional IRA. The objective of Operation Chiffon ...