The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington

'The Irregulars of Baker Street' were not only the street spies helping Sherlock Holmes in Doyle's work, but, also, a group of British spies sent by Winston Churchill to the USA, during WWII, in order to force the Americans to militarily intervene in Europe, and, after Pearl Harbour, to lobby in support of Britain for it to have a key role in the post-war world.

One of the few free bastions still standing in Europe, Britain was indeed then isolated, on its knees, and in desperate need of help. The thing was, even though most Americans were opposed to Hitler, British Imperialism didn't attract any more sympathy either, and, the anti-interventionist climate then prevailing was (again, before Peal Harbour) very strong. From the liberals show more supporting pacifist ideals to Republicans opposed to every aspects of Roosevelt's policies, non-interventionists were, in fact, so powerful that they had their own committees evolving within the upper echelons of the political spheres.

This is why the BSC (British Security Council), a group those activities were secret and led by a Canadian industrial (William Stephenson) was implemented, specialised in sabotage, political propaganda and subversion, and that Roald Dahl, charming intellectual, ex RAF pilot, will join in 1942.

The book here mostly focuses on the histories on these spies, and the conflict of interests they engaged in; involving officials, media barons, and wealthy philanthropists and politicians (Dahl will even succeed to become a friend of the Roosevelt family!). Yet it gives to see, also, the birth of a writer.

It was indeed at around this time that Dahl began to write -war stories at first, using his personal experience of being pilot- and, spotted by publishers, joined this flock of authors (A.A. Milne, Somerset Maugham, H.G. Wells...) engaged as propagandists for the press and the radio. Yet, he would also later demarked himself by building his very own, personal style, incorporating in his stories creatures from Norse mythologies. Success seemed to be so close, that a collaboration with Walt Disney was even envisaged...

'The Irregulars', then, is a book killing two birds with one stone: it will appeal to history geeks, as much as to the fans of Dahl the author. A engrossing read on both front. show less

As a huge Roald Dahl fan, both of his children’s books and adult short stories and memoirs, this nonfiction piece was a no-brainer for me. After being injured during his stint as an RAF pilot Dahl is sent to America to insinuate himself into the political society in Washington D.C. He’s been recruited to work for an obscure British intelligence agency that gathered information in America during World War II.

Conant tells of Dahl’s liaisons with a gossipy intimacy that makes the book read like a novel. He was a bit of a rake, unfettered by marriage and able to find friends and lovers wherever he went. A wealthy publisher, Charles Marsh, took Dahl under his wing and helped him along in the publishing world, which eventually led to show more Dahl’s career as an author. Fellow spy and friend Ian Fleming went on to write the James Bond novels.

I love that this book fills in an important gap in Dahl’s life. It picks up where his first two memoirs, Boy and Going Solo, leave off. It explains how he became a writer while also giving the readers fascinating details about his work as a spy.

BOTTOM LINE: A must for fans of Dahl, Fleming or spy novels in the style of John le Carré. It’s not an action packed story, but a look at what went on behind-the-scenes during WWII. show less

I was torn between two and a half stars and three for this book. Two and a half because it is quite pedantic and went on and on about the politics of Washington during the war, which was not what I signed up for when I read the title. It seemed to me that there was very little about the actual espionage which went on. Three stars because it was on a topic I had heard very little about and it gave me a good overview of Roald Dahl's life. Having read it, I now understand why his books never sat very well with me. He is not someone I would have enjoyed knowing and I have no doubt that the feeling would be mutual. This book does add another facet to the wartime spies though, and for that I am glad I read it. It did not have a good pace. The show more author would have some good tales, then get lost in a myriad of details which bogged down the reader, or change the focus completely. show less

During a casual conversation a couple weeks ago, I mentioned I had a passing interest in Ian Fleming. One of my family members who is a big history buff suggested I try reading this book about Roald Dahl and his work with the BSC Irregulars during World War II. Like many other bookies, I was vaguely familiar with Roald Dahl because of the fame he attained authoring popular children's books like "James and the Giant Peach", but I knew little else about his history. Somewhat reluctantly I decided to give it a try and it turned out to be one of the most intriguing historical accounts I have read in many years. J Conant's research on the charismatic Dahl and the other dashing men-about-town (Fleming included) utilized by William Stephenson show more as propaganda agents in wartime Washington reads in places like page-turning fiction, but this wartime tale is based on meticulous research including official correspondence and telegrams, personal diaries, family interviews, etc. Dahl certainly crammed a lot of living into his time here on Earth (RAF fighter pilot, spy, seducer of the rich and famous, husband, father, award-winning author, etc.), but I almost wish he had squeezed in a few more adventures because the book ended much too soon for me. Dahl's personal exploits aside, this book also provides valuable insights into the ways politicians and the media influence public opinion and national policy. Conspiracy theorists, communists, isolationists, politicians, aviators, historians, cryptographers, journalists, and even those just interested in the juicy gossip of high society will all find golden nuggets here. Bottom line: It's an interesting piece of history and a very entertaining story -- I highly recommend it. show less

I did not know that Roald Dahl, author of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "James and the Giant Peach" had been a spy. Conant tells a rollicking story of the tall and dashing RAF pilot in Washington DC during the war years. He cuts a wide swathe through the pretty young things of the era - irresistible to many apparently, but not a particularly nice person.

Dahl's patron was one Charles Marsh, super-rich publisher and behind the scenes machinator for Vice President Wallace, future President Lyndon B. Johnson, and others. Marsh adopted Dahl, mentored him, sometimes financed him, and enabled Dahl to function as a conduit between Roosevelt and Churchill, and more broadly between the US and British governments.

Most of the book is show more taken up with a little too much detail about the gossipy, alcohol soaked, cocksmanship of Roald Dahl, Ian Flemming and their other buddies in wartime Washington. They social-climb, they charm, they seduce, they joke, they party in the city, they party in the country. The book enables us to contemplate the ways in which awful people can be charming, and fascinating people can be repulsive. It's enjoyable in its way, perhaps particularly if you are a former international relations scholar such as myself.

In the course of the story we are reminded and enlightened about the early days of the OSS, predecessor to the CIA, and its close relationship to the British secret service. We watch the emergence of an American intelligence service as a close parallel to the emergence of the United States as an effective world empire.

The real literary punch comes in the final chapter in which the author sums up everything that happened after the halcyon days of spying and screwing, from the late 1940s until Dahl's death in 1990. As, decade by decade, Dahl's marriages and children and travels and books role by, we get a marvelous cinematic sense of a life lived. His later life may have been lived well or poorly (it certainly produced some good children's literature) but it was all rather ordinary compared to those days of parties and sex and secret messages when the fate of the world hung in the balance. show less

Roald Dahl's own work is defined by twisting expectations and perceptions. So it is only fitting that Jennet Conant's look at his service as a British spy on the United States does just that to what most Americans think about World War II.

The very idea that the Allies would have spied on each other is something that most readers may never have considered. Conant consistently emphasizes the desperation with which Britain in general and Churchill in particular worried over American involvement in and perception of the war. In his own role, Roald Dahl was but a foot soldier, but as in all authentic tales those on the front lines have the best stories to tell.

The heroes here are people we know: Dahl, Ian Fleming, David Ogilvy, FDR and show more Churchill. But Conant digs beyond their exploits and shines light on the movers behind them, people like William Stephenson, who headed the British intelligence effort in the U.S., and Charles Marsh, an American newspaper tycoon and would-be Washington power player. It is these folks, with their myriad motivations, both high-minded and patriotic and vengeful, protective and territorial that informed the progress of the way. Conant presents it all down to the sordid details of Dahl's and Marsh's ribald correspondence, Dahl's affair with Tyrone Power's wife and another with Congresswoman Clare Boothe Luce. Dropping in from time to time are the heroes of later stories, Harry Truman (who played poker with Dahl) and Lyndon Johnson (who was a frequent guest at Marsh's Virginia retreat).

All of the major moves of the war, from Lend-Lease to D-Day, are given fresh impetus to American readers with the British perspective, which was downright combative at times for such a close ally. Dahl and Co. were not above stealing, lying or propagandizing to achieve their ends, and it is such impolite behavior that saw them largely ostracized from polite society following the war. The machinations are as compellingly rendered here as in any spy novel, and anyone with interest in the period (or in Dahl) should read the book. show less

Everyone knows Roald Dahl as the writer of many popular children’s books, but as a young man he led a fascinating life as an RAF pilot and then an agent for the BSC in Washington D.C. during World War II. The Irregulars by Jennet Conant covers Dahl’s time in covert operations while examining his personal life, the lives of the people around him, and the larger happenings of the war. Conant uses a lot of primary sources to reveal many details while still keeping the narrative moving to paint a picture of a flawed but very interesting man who played an important role during the war. Readers who enjoy historical nonfiction — especially WWII — should not miss this one.