Synopses & Reviews
A definitive and comprehensive biography of infamous Soviet spy Alger Hiss by a former U.S. Intelligence and analyst who confirms both Hiss's guilt and how deeply the Soviets had infiltrated the government during and post WWII.During the late 1940s, a high-level State Department official named Alger Hiss was accused of spying for the Soviet Union by a senior editor of Time magazine. For two years, the political drama of the Hiss trials made headlines throughout the country. But to most people today, the Hiss case is unfamiliar. Now, retired intelligence analyst Christina Shelton makes this fascinating story accessible, and in the same tradition as New Deal or Raw Deal?, makes a key part of history relevant.
Shelton views the Hiss story as much more than a spy case; she goes beyond the case itself, taking it to a much larger level. She highlights the many missed opportunities and poor judgments in Hiss's case, and discusses them in the context of wide-scale Soviet infiltration and espionage. Shelton explains that the Hiss story represents a huge American counterintelligence analytic failure and provides details on how our country's academia still defend Hiss and other malcontents from the era. Alger Hiss remains a symbol, an iconic figure of the left--more concerned about what he stood for rather than what he did--which is still a hot topic in politics today.
Review
"A vigorous reappraisal of the Hiss-Chambers espionage affair, leaving no doubt of Hissand#8217;s guilt.andlt;BRandgt; The author makes a good case for the willful blindness practiced by pro-Hiss parties involved ... andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;A solid look at the specifics of the case as well as a useful overview of the ideological debate gripping America." --andlt;Iandgt;Kirkusandnbsp;andlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"A timely reminder that the worries about national security and loyalty--concerns often derided as paranoiac, right-wing delusions--were entirely justified." --Wall Street Journal
Review
"Rigorous and carefully documented analysis...[andlt;Iandgt;Alger Hissandlt;/Iandgt;] is a rare thing: a good book about an important subject. Shelton makes a sledgehammer of a caseand#8230;a sustained artillery assault." --andlt;Iandgt;National Reviewandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
and#8220; A much needed book... With clarity, conciseness, and a sure hand, Christina Shelton guides the reader through what has become an otherwise nearly impenetrable jungle of controversy.and#8221;and#8221; -- Tennent H. Bagley, author of andlt;Iandgt;Spy Warsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Bandgt; andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;
Review
and#8220;In andlt;Iandgt;Alger Hiss:andnbsp; Why He Chose Treason, andlt;/Iandgt;Christina Shelton ably captures the real Alger Hissand#8212;his path to communism, his treason, and his conviction and imprisonment.andnbsp; Her evidence is overpowering:andnbsp; Alger Hiss was indeed a communist spy.andnbsp; Shelton carefully connects Hiss to his historical context inside Americaand#8217;s political elite, which was chagrined and strangely baffled when Hissand#8217;s treason was exposed.and#8221; --Burton Folsom, Jr. and Anita Folsom, authors ofandlt;Iandgt; FDR Goes to Warandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
and#8220;Shelton makes clear what Hiss did and the impact it had on U.S. intelligence. . . . A well-done book written by someone who knows.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;David Murphy, retired chief of Soviet operations at CIA HQ and author of andlt;Iandgt;What Stalin Knewandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
and#8220;A timely reminder that the worries about national security and loyaltyand#8212;concerns often derided as paranoiac, right-wing delusionsand#8212;were entirely justified.and#8221; and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;Wall Street Journalandlt;/Iandgt;
Synopsis
A former U.S. Intelligence analyst shines a fresh light on accused Soviet spy Alger Hiss, providing "a solid look at the specifics of the case as well as a useful overview of the ideological debate gripping America" (Kirkus Reviews).
In 1948, former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss was accused of being a Soviet spy. Because the statute of limitations on espionage had run out, he was convicted only of perjury. Decades later--after the Hiss trial had been long forgotten by most--archival evidence surfaced confirming the accusations: a public servant with access to classified documents had indeed passed crucial information to the Soviets for more than a decade.
Yet many on the American left still consider Hiss an iconic figure--an innocent victim accused of unsubstantiated crimes. They prefer to focus on the collectivist ideals Hiss stood for, rather than confront the reality of a man who systemically and methodically betrayed his country.
Former U.S. Intelligence analyst Christina Shelton employs an in-depth knowledge of Soviet intelligence affairs as well as recently released Hungarian and KGB archival material to shine a fresh light on one of the most famous U.S. espionage cases. The story is dramatic, but Shelton's analysis goes beyond sensationalism as she explores both the ideological motivation behind Hiss's behavior and the lasting influence it has had on U.S. foreign policy.
Synopsis
andlt;Iandgt;In 1948, former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss was accused of being a Soviet spy. Because the statute of limitations on espionage had run out, he was convicted only of perjury. Decades laterand#8212;after the Hiss trial had been long forgotten by mostand#8212;archival evidence surfaced confirming the accusations: a public servant with access to classified documents had indeed passed crucial information to the Soviets for more than a decade.andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Yet many on the American left still consider Hiss an iconic figureand#8212;an innocent victim accused of unsubstantiated crimes. They prefer to focus on the collectivist ideals Hiss stood for, rather than confront the reality of a man who systemically and methodically betrayed his country.andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Former U.S. Intelligence analyst Christina Shelton employs an in-depth knowledge of Soviet intelligence affairs as well as recently released Hungarian and KGB archival material to shine a fresh light on one of the most famous U.S. espionage cases. The story is dramatic, but Sheltonand#8217;s analysis goes beyond sensationalism as she explores both the ideological motivation behind Hissand#8217;s behavior and the lasting influence it has had on U.S. foreign policy.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Christina Sheltonandlt;/bandgt; is a retired U.S. intelligence analyst. She spent twenty-two years working as a Soviet analyst and a Counterintelligence Branch Chief at the Defense Intelligence Agency. She has alsoandnbsp;been a staff analyst at various think tanks.