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

Conant, Jennet

ISBN 10: 1598876937 ISBN 13: 9781598876932

Publisher: HighBridge Audio, 2008

Synopsis

Prior to the U.S. entering WWII, a small coterie of British spies in Washington, D.C., was formed. They called themselves the Baker Street Irregulars after the band of street urchins who were the eyes and ears of Sherlock Holmes in some Arthur Conan Doyle stories. This group constituted the very beginning of what would become MI6, the British version of the CIA, and they helped support the fledgling American intelligence service, known at the time as the OSS. Among them were writers Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming, and the flamboyant Canadian industrialist turned professional saboteur William Stephenson, known by the code name "Intrepid," upon whom Fleming would later base his fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Richly detailed and carefully researched, Conant's narrative uses never-before-seen wartime letters, diaries, and interviews to create a fascinating, lively account of deceit, double dealing, and moral ambiguity-all in the name of victory.

About this title

Review:

Amazon Best of the Month, September 2008: Long before Willy Wonka sent out those five Golden Tickets, Roald Dahl lived a life that was more James Bond than James and the Giant Peach. After blinding headaches cut short his distinguished career as a Royal Air Force fighter pilot, Dahl became part of an elite group of British spies working against the United States' neutrality at the onset of World War II. The Irregulars is a brilliant profile of Dahl's lesser-known profession, embracing a real-life storyline of suave debauchery, clandestine motives, and afternoon cocktails. If this sounds oddly familiar, it's no coincidence: both Ian Fleming (the creator of 007) and Bill Stephenson (the legendary spymaster rumored to be the inspiration for Bond) were members of the same outfit. Although "Dahl...Roald Dahl" doesn't quite carry the same debonair ring, there is no discrediting this fascinating look at the British author's covert service to the Allied cause during WWII. --Dave Callanan

About the Author:

JENNET CONANT is a journalist who has written profiles for Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ, Newsweek, and The New York Times.  She is the author of the bestselling Tuxedo Park and 109 East Palace. Conant lives in New York City and Sag Harbor, New York.

About this edition

• Publisher: HighBridge Audio
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1598876937
• ISBN 13: 9781598876932
• Binding: Audio CD