During the American Revolution, espionage was critical to both the successes and failures of Continental and British efforts. While the most notorious episode of spying during the war (the Benedict Arnold affair) was a failure, most intelligence operations succeeded. With meticulous research, Jo... Read more
During the American Revolution, espionage was critical to both the successes and failures of Continental and British efforts. While the most notorious episode of spying during the war (the Benedict Arnold affair) was a failure, most intelligence operations succeeded. With meticulous research, John Nagy traces the history of spy techniques from ancient China through Elizabethan England before embarking on the various techniques used during the American War for Independence. Such methods included dictionary codes, diplomatic ciphers, hidden compartments (including a hollowed-out bullet or a woman’s garter), and even musical notation. Taking a close look at spy rings such as the Culper ring that provided Washington with information from inside British-controlled New York City, we learn that those employed in cloak-and-dagger operations always risked death. After nearly two decades of primary research, Nagy reveals puzzling methods, codes, and ciphers that have remained a mystery until now.
