Nigel Jones

From slaves’ rectums to porn vids, there are few places people haven’t tried to conceal secret messages

A review of Prisoners, Lovers and Spies: The Story of Invisible Ink from Herodotus to al-Qa’eda, by Kristie Macrakis. The ancients hid their intel in hares' bellies; today, jihadis use porn

[Getty Images/Shutterstock/Bridgeman]
  • Comments

  • Prisoners, Lovers and Spies: The Story of Invisible Ink from Herodotus to al-Qa’eda

    Kristie Macrakis

    Yale University Press, pp. 377

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Get a free bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label when you subscribe to The Spectator for just £12 in our Black Friday sale

  • Free bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky, worth £30
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

More on book review

Also by Nigel Jones

Latest

Comments

Black Friday sale: Get 10 weeks for just $1

Unlimited access to the The Spectator, online and via the app

Already a subscriber? Log in