Strangers on a Bridge: The Case of Colonel Abel and Francis Gary Powers
by James B. Donovan
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Originally published in 1964, this is the insider account of the Cold War spy exchange that is now the subject of the major motion picture Bridge of Spies by Steven Spielberg starring Tom Hanks-with a new foreword by Jason Matthews, New York Times bestselling author of Red Sparrow and Palace of Treason. In the early morning of February 10, 1962, James B. Donovan began his walk toward the center of the Glienicke Bridge, the famous "Bridge of Spies" which then linked West Berlin to East. With show more him, walked Rudolf Ivanovich Abel, master spy and for years the chief of Soviet espionage in the United States. Approaching them from the other side, under equally heavy guard, was Francis Gary Powers, the American U-2 spy plane pilot famously shot down by the Soviets, whose exchange for Abel Donovan had negotiated. These were the strangers on a bridge, men of East and West, representatives of two opposed worlds meeting in a moment of high drama. Abel was the most gifted, the most mysterious, the most effective spy in his time. His trial, which began in a Brooklyn United States District Court and ended in the Supreme Court of the United States, chillingly revealed the methods and successes of Soviet espionage. No one was better equipped to tell the whole absorbing history than James B. Donovan, who was appointed to defend one of his country's enemies and did so with scrupulous skill. In Strangers on a Bridge, the lead prosecutor in the Nuremburg Trials offers a clear-eyed and fast-paced memoir that is part procedural drama, part dark character study and reads like a noirish espionage thriller. From the first interview with Abel to the exchange on the bridge in Berlin-and featuring unseen photographs of Donovan and Abel as well as trial notes and sketches drawn from Abel's prison cell-here is an important historical narrative. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A wonderful book by a fellow who seems to be exactly like the person one thinks Tom Hanks to be. Much of this is the straight trial transcript and description of the original and following appeals to the Supreme Court of the Soviet spy. Comments by the judge and asides by Donovan are all a delight. And, the "point" of Donovan's defense is very important and well put. Only a small part of the book at the end covers the Berlin negotiations for the eventual swap, but it is very fast-paced and quite thrilling. Wonderful. Wonderful.
Strangers on a Bridge - the book that is the basis for the 2015 movie starring Tom Hanks, Bridge of Spies - is an excellent read but may be off putting for people not interested in courtroom procedure. Donovan is a lawyer and the story is true, well-written, and an insider's look at the court case that preceded the prisoner exchange of Abel and Gary Powers, the U2 pilot.
About one quarter of the book focuses on the direct and cross examination that occurred during the trial. This detailed look at the questioning, as well as the relevant evidentiary objections, preparation, and motion practice, are inside baseball for lawyers. Law students will find the procedural elements of Donovan's tale to be interesting from the perspective of lawyer show more war stories.
The book touches on spies, tradecraft, espionage practices in the 1950s but not like your typical cloak-and-dagger. Rather, these are explained - interestingly but mechanically - as part of the larger narrative around who Colonel Abel was.
I found the book to be a fast read and quite enjoyable. I'm not sure that the courtroom procedural aspects would appeal to a broader audience, who might want to skip through and then read closely the last third of the book. show less
About one quarter of the book focuses on the direct and cross examination that occurred during the trial. This detailed look at the questioning, as well as the relevant evidentiary objections, preparation, and motion practice, are inside baseball for lawyers. Law students will find the procedural elements of Donovan's tale to be interesting from the perspective of lawyer show more war stories.
The book touches on spies, tradecraft, espionage practices in the 1950s but not like your typical cloak-and-dagger. Rather, these are explained - interestingly but mechanically - as part of the larger narrative around who Colonel Abel was.
I found the book to be a fast read and quite enjoyable. I'm not sure that the courtroom procedural aspects would appeal to a broader audience, who might want to skip through and then read closely the last third of the book. show less
Book 26 - James B Donovan - Strangers on a Bridge
Am a huge Tom Hanks fan, love most of his movies,going back as far ‘The Man with One Red Shoe’ and ‘Big’. He has made some duds; I’m looking at you ‘Cloud Atlas’ but recently Helen bought me the above book which was made in to the excellent Spielberg movie ‘Bridge of Spies’.
You may recall I noted that Grisham’s legal thrillers, that I love, have little courtroom action, well this more than made up for this. A brilliantly written, true story that is told in first person by the lawyer at the centre of it all. An intricate telling of the rigours of American justice and the pursuit of truth by one man forced to defend a Soviet spy because...well...that is what the right show more justice system is all about.
Told via his diaries and by the court reporter documents - it is the ultimate prisoner exchange story because it actually happened - and really easy to read...another one recommended - tick show less
Am a huge Tom Hanks fan, love most of his movies,going back as far ‘The Man with One Red Shoe’ and ‘Big’. He has made some duds; I’m looking at you ‘Cloud Atlas’ but recently Helen bought me the above book which was made in to the excellent Spielberg movie ‘Bridge of Spies’.
You may recall I noted that Grisham’s legal thrillers, that I love, have little courtroom action, well this more than made up for this. A brilliantly written, true story that is told in first person by the lawyer at the centre of it all. An intricate telling of the rigours of American justice and the pursuit of truth by one man forced to defend a Soviet spy because...well...that is what the right show more justice system is all about.
Told via his diaries and by the court reporter documents - it is the ultimate prisoner exchange story because it actually happened - and really easy to read...another one recommended - tick show less
Excellent story of Kennedy-era lawyer representing KGB spy Rudolf Abel and US pilot Gary Powers
Mycket bra bok, spännande.
Feb 9, 2008Swedish
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Strangers on a Bridge: The Case of Colonel Abel and Francis Gary Powers
- Original publication date
- 1964
- People/Characters
- Francis Gary Powers; Rudolf Abel
- Related movies
- Bridge of Spies (2015 | IMDb)
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History, Biography & Memoir, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 327.12 — Society, government, & culture Political science International Relations: Spies Foreign policy and specific topics in international relations Espionage and subversion
- LCC
- UB271 .R92 .D6 — Military Science Military administration Military administration Intelligence
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 293
- Popularity
- 109,638
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.88)
- Languages
- English, German, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 12
- ASINs
- 8
