R. Harris Smith

This book is an overview of the history of Office of Strategic Services during World War II. It has very few instances of derring-do and a great deal about the administration and administrators of the OSS. It traces the history of the OSS in each area of operations.

The book also goes into great detail about the politics of the OSS and its relations with other intelligence agencies. From the discussion of the political fighting it seems a wonder that any agency accomplished anything. The show more squabbling was intense and ever-lasting.

As books go, it is not badly written although the style is pedestrian. The author is a scholar and ex-CIA agent. He is slightly left-of-center and has some interesting things to say about Ho Chi Minh. The book has ample footnotes and a fairly extensive bibliography as well as an index. show less