ANEWYORKTIMESEDITOR’SCHOICE“Acompellingstorythatpulsateswiththeenergyofathriller“--TheWallStreetJournal“Suspense,矇lanandageneroushelpingofglamour:ThinkGeorgeSmileyinamink-trimmedcoat.“--TheNewYorkTimesBookReviewThetruestoryofsocialiteMargueriteHarrison,whospiedforU.S.militaryintelligenceinRussiaandGermanyinthefraughtperiodbetweentheworldwarsBornaprivilegedchildofAmerica’sGildedAge,MargueriteHarrisonrebelledagainsthermother’sambitions,marriedthemansheloved,waswidowedatthirty-seven,andsetoffonalifeofadventure.Hiredasasocietyreporter,whenAmericaenteredWorldWarIsheappliedtoMilitaryIntelligencetoworkasaspy.ShearrivedinBerlinimmediatelyaftertheArmisticeandbefriendedtheenemy,diningwitharistocratsanddancingwithsocialists.LateintothenightshewroteprescientreportsonthegrowingpoweroftheGermanright.SenttoMoscow,shesneakedintoRussiatoobservetheresultsoftheBolshevikRevolution.AlthoughshecarriedpresscredentialsshewascaughtandimprisonedasanAmericanspy.TerrifiedwhentoldheronlywayoutwastospyfortheCheka,shebecameadoubleagent,aimingtoconvincetheRussianrulersshewasworkingforthemwhilestrivingtostayloyaltohercountry.InGermanyandRussia,Harrisonsawthefuture--asecondwarwithGermany,acoldwarwiththeSoviets--butherreportswereignoredbymanybackhome.Overadecade,Harrison’smysteriousadventurestookhertoEurope,Baghdad,andtheFarEast,asasocialite,secretagent,anddocumentaryfilmmaker.JanetWallachcapturesHarrison’sdaringandglamourinthisstranger-than-fictionhistoryofawomandrawntotheimpossible.
