SPIES

Tributes to the courage of over two dozen secret agents of the World War II era and afterward—not all of them on the same side.

Drawing largely from the annals of Britain’s Special Operations Executive, historian Long highlights the daring exploits of roughly equal numbers of men and women plus one homing pigeon, with briefer mentions of several others. Most worked to support the French Resistance, but Roald Dahl, for instance, spied for the British on the then-neutral U.S. in the war’s early days. The roster also includes double agents who played both sides; Klaus Fuchs, who shared nuclear secrets with the USSR; and war criminal Adolf Eichmann’s Mossad kidnapper, Zvi Aharani. Except for renowned entertainer Josephine Baker and radio operator Noor Inayat Khan, the cast is all White. If the three-to-four–page entries are skimpy on biographical specifics and no sources are given, there’s no shortage of thrilling feats, narrow escapes, tragic fates, and occasional insights into character or motive. Few of these figures are familiar today; of those who ought to be better known, Charles Fraser-Smith may lead the pack as inventor of the exploding rat and other ingenious gear for spies and saboteurs. Along with attractive, full-color portraits and spot art with a retro feel, Po adds modest quantities of visual drama with painted scenes of explosions, parachutes, and neatly dressed agents hiding from or calmly posing with enemy soldiers.

Rousing tales of heroic deeds for causes just or otherwise.