 First edition | |
| Author | James Bamford |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Investigative journalism, Political history |
| Publisher | Houghton-Mifflin |
Publication date | September 19, 1982[1] |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Pages | 466 (Houghton-Mifflin first edition)[1] 656 (Penguin Books paperback)[2] |
| ISBN | 978-0140067484 |
| OCLC | 8345302 |
| Preceded by | None (first major work) |
| Followed by | Body of Secrets: Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency (2002) |
The Puzzle Palace is a book written by James Bamford and published in 1982. It is the first major, popular work devoted entirely to the history and workings of the National Security Agency (NSA), a United States intelligence organization. The title refers to a nickname for the NSA, which is headquartered in Fort Meade, Maryland.[3] In addition to describing the role of the NSA and explaining how it was organized, the book exposed details of a massive eavesdropping operation called Operation Shamrock. According to security expert Bruce Schneier, the book was popular within the NSA itself, as "the agency's secrecy prevents its employees from knowing much about their own history".[4]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
NYT-reviewwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Puzzle Palace listing on Amazon.com". Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ The term has also been used to refer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the 1995 book The Bureau by Diarmuid Jeffreys.
- ^ Schneier, Bruce (2001). "Body of Secrets review".