Spy Book Mysteriously Cancelled From Publication

Friday, 7 March 2003, 1:58 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

A Scoop reader has contacted Scoop concerning a developing mystery, namely why the latest book by spook author Anthony Cave Brown (the cover is above) has had its publication date put back three times so far, and then now has been mysteriously cancelled from publication.

The Scoop reader, based in the United States, had been keen to obtain a copy of Cave Brown's THE SECRET SOCIETY since early last year. Since then he has watched publication postponements take place on July2002, December 2002 and January 2003.

" I ordered the book 7 times from various vendors, all failed to supply the book. I contacted the publisher Harcourt and was told it had been cancelled. They refused to give me the name of the person who made that decision or why. Amazon and a couple other sites still list it as for sale, but they are unable to get it. I even saw one disappear off of Ebay before the auction ended last summer, someone is going to great lengths to kill this book. The book material deals with the covert network of the US government. Any publicity showing this censorship will be greatly appreciated.

According to Amazon the publication date is supposed to be March 2003.

Amazon describes the book thus:

Product Details Hardcover: 484 pages Publisher: Harcourt; (March 2004) ISBN: 0151007926 Amazon.com Sales Rank: 1,017,112

Editorial Reviews

Book Description
From a bestselling author whose sources are speaking publicly for the first time: * The true story behind the American role in the destruction of the Soviet Union * How the Cold War nearly became a hot war during the Reagan years * Revelations about intelligence activities, from the Rosenbergs to Afghanistan

About the Author
British-born Anthony Cave Brown has been a journalist for over 50 years. In addition to the best-selling BODYGUARD OF LIES, he is the author of books about William Donovan, Kim Philby, and other spymasters. His most recent book is OIL, GOD, AND GOLD: THE SAUDI KINGS AND THE ARABIAN AMERICAN OIL COMPANY. He lives in McLean, Virginia.

Anxious when publication was postponed yet again early this year the reader emailed the publisher.

To: bhanshaw@harcourt.com Subject: book update 02/26/2003

I have tried 7 times to order a book called THE SECRET SOCIETY by ANTHONY CAVE BROWN from various vendors, with no success. Your company is listed as the publisher. Can you tell me what is happening with this book ?

thank you

He received the following reply.

From: bhanshaw@harcourtbrace.com Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 1:39 PM Subject: Re: book update

Dear Sir

The book is postponed indefinitely.

Best,

Bill Hanshaw Trade Customer Service Manager

Scoop has emailed Mr Hanshaw seeking an explanation for the decision to drop publication and seeking contact details for Mr Cave-Brown to conduct an interview.

So far he has not replied.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

• Linkedin
• Twitter - @althecat
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz