With unprecedented access to their hitherto sealed records, David Horner tells the real story of Australia's domestic intelligence organisation, from shaky beginnings to the expulsion of Ivan Skripov in 1963. This is the first volume of a remarkable official history of ASIO - a revealing and authoritative account of the early years of Australia's national security intelligence service.

With unfettered access to the records, David Horner’s research sheds new light on the Petrov Affair, and documents incidents and activities that have never previously been revealed. This authoritative and ground-breaking account overturns many myths about ASIO, and offers new insights into broader Australian politics and society in the fraught years of the Cold War.

David Horner AM is Professor of Australian defence history in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at The Australian National University, Australia’s oldest, largest and highest ranking academic institute for strategic studies research, education and commentary.