British ‘Spy Fever’ in the First World War

Name: British ‘Spy Fever’ in the First World War
Price: 170 AUD
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ISBN: 9781350523432

Fearing the Enemy Within

Dr Harry Richards (University of Portsmouth, UK)

$170

Hardback

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English

Bloomsbury Academic
18 September 2025

British & Irish history; First World War; International relations; Military intelligence

An exploration of how British society experienced 'spy fever' during the First World War.

Following the declaration of war in 1914, German spies were sighted across Britain as a potent form of ‘spy fever’ supposedly gripped the nation. This book questions the extent to which British society was truly terrified of German spies and explores the broader impacts of secret warfare during the early stages of the First World War. Harry Richards analyses the belief that a clandestine network of spies and saboteurs, mostly comprised of naturalised aliens domiciled in Britain, had successfully infiltrated all elements of society and were poised to destroy Britain’s war effort from within. Although that danger never fully materialised, the spy peril remained a dominant feature of radical politics and popular culture throughout the First World War. Why images of German spies were so appealing and enduring during this period is the subject of this book.

British ‘Spy Fever’ in the First World War contends that our understanding of ‘spy fever’ is in need of significant revision. Whereas previous studies typically characterise society’s reaction to the spy peril as one of hysteria, this book shows that our understanding of ‘spy fever’ should encompass a wider variety of emotions and experiences. British society was certainly obsessed with images of German espionage, but this seldom resulted in psychological disorder. Each chapter therefore examines different emotional experiences: alarm, terror, excitement, anxiety, hope, anger, and enjoyment to highlight the diverse and complex reactions towards the enemy within.

By: Dr Harry Richards (University of Portsmouth UK)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 238mm, Width: 154mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 1.220kg
ISBN: 9781350523432
ISBN 10: 1350523437
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 18 September 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

List of Illustrations Introduction Part 1 – Origins 1. An Era of Anxiety 2. The Outbreak of the First World War Part 2 - Individual Fears 3. Wartime Spy Phobias 4. Playing the Great Game Part 3 - Collective Anxieties 5. Concerns on the Home Front 6. Public Opinion and the Enemy Within 7. The Spy Obsession Conclusion Bibliography Index

Harry Richards is Deputy Director of the University of Portsmouth’s Military Education Team based at RAF College Cranwell.

Reviews for British ‘Spy Fever’ in the First World War: Fearing the Enemy Within

In his carefully researched book Dr Richards has produced a new and significant contribution to our understanding of how popular emotions evolved during the opening months of the First World War * David French, Professor Emeritus, University College London, UK *