From the bestselling author of Lawrence in Arabia-the gripping story of four CIA agents during the early days of the Cold War-and how the United States, at the very pinnacle of its power, managed to permanently damage its moral standing in the world.

"Enthralling ... captivating reading." -The New York Times Book Review

At the end of World War II, the United States was considered the victor over tyranny and a champion of freedom. But it was clear-to some-that the Soviet Union was already seeking to expand and foment revolution around the world, and the American government's strategy in response relied on the secret efforts of a newly formed CIA. Chronicling the fascinating lives of four agents, Scott Anderson follows the exploits of four spies: Michael Burke, who organized parachute commandos from an Italian villa; Frank Wisner, an ingenious spymaster who directed actions around the world; Peter Sichel, a German Jew who outwitted the ruthless KGB in Berlin; and Edward Lansdale, a mastermind of psychological warfare in the Far East. But despite their lofty ambitions, time and again their efforts went awry, thwarted by a combination of ham-fisted politicking and ideological rigidity at the highest levels of the government.