Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American intelligence in the revolutionary war

摘要

This work is firmly grounded in serious intelligence study of the American Revolution rather than sensationalism or voyeuristic storytelling. Like any good intelligence history, Daigler's work focuses squarely on 'who' knew 'what' and 'when', by what means this intelligence was gained and imparted, and how this intelligence affected operations and decision-making. The prose itself is written in an entertaining, often avuncular manner, occasionally digressing into very personal editorializing. The author's background as a Marine, a CIA officer, and a huminter are all made abundantly clear. In particular, the author's experience with clandestine human intelligence collection is clearly acknowledged, repeatedly referenced, and comprises both a core strength and occasional weakness of the work.