Strangers on a Bridge The Case of Colonel Abel & Francis Gary Powers

Originally published in 1964, this is the and#8220;enthrallingand#8230;truly remarkableand#8221; (andlt;iandgt;The New York Times Book Reviewandlt;/iandgt;) insider account of the Cold War spy exchange that is now the subject of the major motion picture andlt;iandgt;Bridge of Spiesandlt;/iandgt; by Steven Spielberg starring Tom Hanksand#8212;with a new foreword by Jason Matthews, andlt;iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/iandgt; bestselling author of andlt;iandgt;Red Sparrowandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Palace of Treasonandlt;/iandgt;.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;In the early morning of February 10, 1962, James B. Donovan began his walk toward the center of the Glienicke Bridge, the famous and#8220;Bridge of Spiesand#8221; which then linked West Berlin to East. With him, walked Rudolf Ivanovich Abel, master spy and for years the chief of Soviet espionage in the United States. Approaching them from the other side, under equally heavy guard, was Francis Gary Powers, the American U-2 spy plane pilot famously shot down by the Soviets, whose exchange for Abel Donovan had negotiated. These were the strangers on a bridge, men of East and West, representatives of two opposed worlds meeting in a moment of high drama.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Abel was the most gifted, the most mysterious, the most effective spy in his time. His trial, which began in a Brooklyn United States District Court and ended in the Supreme Court of the United States, chillingly revealed the methods and successes of Soviet espionage.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; No one was better equipped to tell the whole absorbing history than James B. Donovan, who was appointed to defend one of his countryand#8217;s enemies and did so with scrupulous skill. In andlt;iandgt;Strangers on a Bridgeandlt;/iandgt;, the lead prosecutor in the Nuremburg Trials offers a clear-eyed and fast-paced memoir that is part procedural drama, part dark character study and reads like a noirish espionage thriller. From the first interview with Abel to the exchange on the bridge in Berlinand#8212;and featuring unseen photographs of Donovan and Abel as well as trial notes and sketches drawn from Abeland#8217;s prison celland#8212;here is an important historical narrative that is and#8220;as fascinating as it is excitingand#8221; (andlt;iandgt;The Houston Chronicleandlt;/iandgt;).

"Unique in the strange history of the Iron Curtain... Enthralling... A truly remarkable account of how the author fulfilled his stewardship as a lawyer and as a negotiator. He has done us a real service in writing this engrossing and forthright book."

"Absorbing... A top-notch spy thriller."

"As fascinating as it is exciting."

"As compelling as andlt;Iandgt;The Spy Who Came In From the Coldandlt;/Iandgt;."

"An impressive story of devotion to justice and the national interest."

The #1 New York Times bestseller and subject of the major motion picture Bridge of Spies directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks as James B. Donovan--now nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Originally published in 1964, this is the "enthralling...truly remarkable" (The New York Times Book Review) insider account of the Cold War spy exchange--with a new foreword by Jason Matthews, New York Times bestselling author of Red Sparrow and Palace of Treason.
In the early morning of February 10, 1962, James B. Donovan began his walk toward the center of the Glienicke Bridge, the famous "Bridge of Spies" which then linked West Berlin to East. With him, walked Rudolf Ivanovich Abel, master spy and for years the chief of Soviet espionage in the United States. Approaching them from the other side, under equally heavy guard, was Francis Gary Powers, the American U-2 spy plane pilot famously shot down by the Soviets, whose exchange for Abel Donovan had negotiated. These were the strangers on a bridge, men of East and West, representatives of two opposed worlds meeting in a moment of high drama.
Abel was the most gifted, the most mysterious, the most effective spy in his time. His trial, which began in a Brooklyn United States District Court and ended in the Supreme Court of the United States, chillingly revealed the methods and successes of Soviet espionage.
No one was better equipped to tell the whole absorbing history than James B. Donovan, who was appointed to defend one of his country's enemies and did so with scrupulous skill. In Strangers on a Bridge, the lead prosecutor in the Nuremburg Trials offers a clear-eyed and fast-paced memoir that is part procedural drama, part dark character study and reads like a noirish espionage thriller. From the first interview with Abel to the exchange on the bridge in Berlin--and featuring unseen photographs of Donovan and Abel as well as trial notes and sketches drawn from Abel's prison cell--here is an important historical narrative that is "as fascinating as it is exciting" (The Houston Chronicle).

The #1 New York Times bestseller and subject of the acclaimed major motion picture Bridge of Spies directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks as James B. Donovan.

Originally published in 1964, this is the "enthralling...truly remarkable" (The New York Times Book Review) insider account of the Cold War spy exchange--with a new foreword by Jason Matthews, New York Times bestselling author of Red Sparrow and Palace of Treason.

In the early morning of February 10, 1962, James B. Donovan began his walk toward the center of the Glienicke Bridge, the famous "Bridge of Spies" which then linked West Berlin to East. With him, walked Rudolf Ivanovich Abel, master spy and for years the chief of Soviet espionage in the United States. Approaching them from the other side, under equally heavy guard, was Francis Gary Powers, the American U-2 spy plane pilot famously shot down by the Soviets, whose exchange for Abel Donovan had negotiated. These were the strangers on a bridge, men of East and West, representatives of two opposed worlds meeting in a moment of high drama.

Abel was the most gifted, the most mysterious, the most effective spy in his time. His trial, which began in a Brooklyn United States District Court and ended in the Supreme Court of the United States, chillingly revealed the methods and successes of Soviet espionage.

No one was better equipped to tell the whole absorbing history than James B. Donovan, who was appointed to defend one of his country's enemies and did so with scrupulous skill. In Strangers on a Bridge, the lead prosecutor in the Nuremburg Trials offers a clear-eyed and fast-paced memoir that is part procedural drama, part dark character study and reads like a noirish espionage thriller. From the first interview with Abel to the exchange on the bridge in Berlin--and featuring unseen photographs of Donovan and Abel as well as trial notes and sketches drawn from Abel's prison cell--here is an important historical narrative that is "as fascinating as it is exciting" (The Houston Chronicle).

Born in New York City in 1916, James B. Donovan graduated from Fordham University and Harvard Law School. A commander in the Navy during World War II, he became general counsel of the Office of Strategic Services and was associate prosecutor at the principal Nuremberg trial. Mr. Donovan subsequently acted as chief counsel in major trials and appeals in over thirty states, and was an insurance lawyer and partner at Watters and Donovan. He was Democratic candidate for United States Senator from New York in 1962; served as general counsel for the Cuban Families Committee, obtaining the release of more than 9,700 Cubans and Americans from Castroandrsquo;s Cuba; was president of Pratt Institute; and was president of the Board of Education of the City of New York. He died in 1970, and was survived by his wife and four children.Jason Matthews is a retired officer of the CIAandrsquo;s Operations Directorate. Over a thirty-three-year career he served in multiple overseas locations and engaged in clandestine collection of national security intelliandshy;gence, specializing in denied-area operations. Matthews conducted recruitment operations against Sovietandndash;East European, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean targets. As Chief in various CIA Stations, he collaborated with foreign partners in counterproliferation and counterterrorism operations. He lives in Southern California.