About the Author

Thomas B. Allen is the author of 30 books on subjects ranging from military history to sharks. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, where is a founding member of the Writer's Center. Visit Thomas B. Allen on the web at www.tballen.com.

Reviews

Gr 6-9-Codes and ciphers, invisible ink and secret messages, spies and counterspies! Covert operations win the Revolutionary War under mastermind Washington in this intriguing take on early American history. Allen presents the facts with a gleeful edge, clearly enjoying his subject and writing with vigor. The author relates the main events of the Revolution chronologically, consistently revealing the shadowy role of intelligence and counterintelligence. Members of the Culper Ring, the "mole" in the Sons of Liberty, and daring women worked as spies, fighting on the secret front where Patriots and Tories looked and sounded alike. Washington's role as spymaster adds a fascinating and fresh perspective on the life of this revered founding father who did far more than cross the Delaware. This small-format book looks like a publication from the 1700s. Set in an antique typeface, it is well illustrated with black-and-white reproductions of archival art and Harness's charming pen-and-ink sketches. Messages written in the Talmadge code (1783) appear throughout, with a key in the appendix. Even the chapter titles are historically appropriate, such as "Franklin's French Friends. IN WHICH a wise man from Philadelphia goes to Paris and outfoxes spies of two nations." This is well-documented, appealing history. It's a good companion to Shannon Zemlicka's Nathan Hale, Patriot Spy (Carolrhoda, 2002), which offers similar coverage on a famous Patriot whose work as a spy cost him his life.-Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Believe it or not, General Washington was the James Bond of his day, building a superior intelligence network that helped to win the Revolutionary War. Something You (Probably) Didn't Know: One of the cornerstones of American intelligence at this time was Benjamin Tallmadge's Culper Ring. Spies in the Culper Ring were known by three-digit numbers; "Agent 355" is rumored to have been the only woman in the group. Fans of Brian Vaughan's Y: The Last Man will recognize the name also given to the series' kick-butt bodyguard/romantic heroine. Why It Is for Us: In addition to containing a fascinating story, it is also a lovely piece of bookmaking, pairing archival art with old-style font and pen-and-ink drawings.-Angelina Benedetti, King Cty. Lib. Syst., WA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.