Book and dagger : how scholars and librarians became the unlikely spies of World War II
Graham, Elyse, 1985-2024
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"The untold story of the academics who became OSS spies, invented modern spy craft, and helped turn the tide of the war at the start of WWII, the US found itself in desperate need of an intelligence agency. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a precursor to today's CIA, was quickly formed-and, to fill its ranks with experts, the OSS turned to academia for recruits. Suddenly, literature professors, librarians, and historians were training to perform undercover operations and investigative work-and these surprising spies would go on to profoundly shape both the course of the war and our cultural institutions with their efforts. In Book and Dagger, Elyse Graham draws on personal histories, diaries, and declassified OSS files to tell the story of a small but connected group of humanities scholars turned unlikely spies. Among them are Joseph Curtiss, a literature professor who hunted down German spies and turned them into double agents; Sherman Kent, a smart-mouthed history professor who rose to become the head of analysis for all of Europe and Africa; and Adele Kibre, an archivist who was sent to Stockholm to secretly acquire documents for the OSS. These unforgettable characters would ultimately help lay the foundations of modern intelligence and transform American higher education when they returned after the war. Thrillingly paced and rigorously researched, Book and Dagger are an inspiring and gripping true story about a group of academics who helped beat the Nazis-a tale that reveals the indelible power of humanities to change the world"-- Provided by publisher.
Main title:
Author:
Graham, Elyse, 1985-, author
Edition:
First edition.
Imprint:
New York, NY : Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2024]©2024
Collation:
xxi, 376 pages ; 24 cm
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 303-356) and index.
Contents:
The Spy Who Came in from the CarrelA Girl's Guide to BurglaryThrough the Looking GlassToo Clever to Be Trapped by a WomanBreaking Codes and Reading TrashThe Dirtiest Work That Can Possibly Be ImaginedSurrender on DemandThe Longest DayLies and Damned LiesSearching for a New Plot.
ISBN:
9780063280847 (hbk)9780063280847
Dewey class:
940.548673940.548
Language:
English
Subject:
Kibre, AdeleKent, ShermanCurtiss, Joseph T., 1901-1992United States. Office of Strategic Services -- Officials and employees -- BiographySpies -- Recruiting -- United States -- History -- 20th centuryWorld War, 1939-1945 -- Secret service -- United StatesWorld War, 1939-1945 -- Secret service -- EuropeEspionage, American -- History -- 20th centuryCollege teachers -- United States -- BiographyLibrarians -- United States -- BiographyInformational works
BRN:
572712
More Information:
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton Library | Adult Non Fiction - Biography | 940.548 KIB | Available |