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The Quiet Americans
Four CIA Spies at the Dawn of the Cold War—a Tragedy in Three Acts
1 of 1 copy available
“Enthralling … captivating reading.” —The New York Times Book Review
At the end of World War II, the United States was considered the victor over tyranny and a champion of freedom. But it was clear—to some—that the Soviet Union was already seeking to expand and foment revolution around the world, and the American government’s strategy in response relied on the secret efforts of a newly formed CIA. Chronicling the fascinating lives of four agents, Scott Anderson follows the exploits of four spies: Michael Burke, who organized parachute commandos from an Italian villa; Frank Wisner, an ingenious spymaster who directed actions around the world; Peter Sichel, a German Jew who outwitted the ruthless KGB in Berlin; and Edward Lansdale, a mastermind of psychological warfare in the Far East. But despite their lofty ambitions, time and again their efforts went awry, thwarted by a combination of ham-fisted politicking and ideological rigidity at the highest levels of the government.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 1, 2020 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593293362
- File size: 634370 KB
- Duration: 22:01:36
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Two matchless storytellers combine talents in this compelling audiobook history of the Cold War, as told through the adventures and misadventures of four key CIA agents. Scott Anderson is the author of 2013's LAWRENCE IN ARABIA, a favorite among fans of serious nonfiction. Narrator Robertson Dean is known for his fine renditions of works by Joseph Ellis, David Halberstam, Robert Caro, Barbara Kingsolver, and so many others. Here Dean brings the steadiness, focus, and dramatic immediacy required for a long narrative, especially one that maintains four interwoven storylines. Anderson narrates the introduction and stakes a personal investment in his tale. Rich in incident, character, and historical import, this is one of the most provocative, most satisfying nonfiction audiobooks of the year. D.A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine -
Starred review from July 27, 2020
The roots of America’s decline in international reputation since WWII lie in the government’s confused and hypocritical actions during the first decade of the Cold War, according to this fascinating history by journalist Anderson (Fractured Lands). Tracking the careers of CIA agents Michael Burke, Edward Lansdale, Peter Sichel, and Frank Wisner from the late 1940s through the 1950s, as the focus of their work shifted from Europe to Asia and Central America, Anderson documents clandestine operations in Albania and the Vietnamese jungle; meetings with increasingly hawkish American officials, in particular Secretary of State John Foster Dulles; and FBI director J. Edgar Hoover’s meddling in CIA affairs. Anderson notes the harrowing emotional cost on his subjects (Wisner committed suicide; Burke and Sichel ultimately left the CIA “in despair”) as the U.S. threw its support behind autocratic leaders and missed opportunities to aid legitimate liberation movements such as the 1956 Hungarian revolution. Such blunders, Anderson writes, recast the U.S. from WWII savior to “one more empire in the mold of all those that had come before.” Laced with vivid character sketches and vital insights into 20th-century geopolitics, this stand-out chronicle helps to make sense of the world today. Agent: Sloan Harris, ICM Partners.
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