Fromoneofourleadingexpertsondisinformation,thisinventivebiographyoftherogueWWIIpropagandistSeftonDelmerconfrontshardquestionsaboutthenatureofinformationwar:whatifyoucan’tfightlieswithtruth?Canapropagandawareverbewon?Inthesummerof1941,HitlerruledEuropefromtheAtlantictotheBlackSea.Britainwasstrugglingtocombathispowerfulpropagandamachine,crowingvictoryandsmearinghisenemiesasliarsandmanipulatorsoverhisfrequentradiospeeches,blastedoutonloudspeakersandintohomes.BritishclaimsthatHitlerwasdangeroushadlittleimpactagainstthiswaveofdisinformation.ExceptforthebroadcastsofsomeonecalledDerChef,aGermanwhoquestionedNazidoctrine.Hehadaccesstohigh-rankingGermanmilitarysecretsandspokeofinternalrebellion.HislistenersincludedGermansoldiersandcitizens,aswellaspoliticiansinWashingtonDCwhoweredebatinggettingintothewar.And--mostimportantly--DerChefwasafiction.HewasacharactercreatedbytheBritishpropagandistThomasSeftonDelmer,auniqueweaponinthewar.Then,asauthorPeterPomerantsevseekstotellDelmer’sstory,heiscalledintoawartimepropagandaeffortofhisown:theUSresponsetotheinvasionofUkraine.Inflashesforwardtothepresentday,Pomerantsevweavesinwhathe’slearningfromDelmerasheseekstofightagainstVladimirPutin’styrannyandlies.ThisbookisthestoryofDelmerandhismoderninvestigator,astheyeachembarkontheirownquesttomanipulatethepassionsofsupportersandenemies,andtoturnthetideofaninformationwar,anextraordinaryhistorythatisinformingthepresentbeforeoureyes.
