The Age of Amateurs: The Espionage Legacy of American High Society

This fascinating history of the intersection of espionage and high society reveals how it shaped American intelligence for two centuries.

The gentleman spy was a well-worn literary trope long before James Bond appeared on the printed page or silver screen. Yet, like many cliches, there is an element of truth to it. American espionage once relied on well-heeled amateurs to a very large degree. They possessed the necessary skill sets and unique expertise for the job. Espionage, the most pragma...