Thursday, January 10

Audiobook review: Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose

Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy RingAuthor: Alexander Rose
Narrator: Kevin Pariseau
Title: Washington's Spies
Genre: Non-fiction
Pages: Audiobook
Published:   published May 2006)
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



Basing his tale on remarkable original research, historian Alexander Rose reveals the unforgettable story of the spy ring that helped America win the Revolutionary War. For the first time, Rose takes us beyond the battlefront and into the shadowy underworld of double agents and triple crosses, covert operations and code breaking, and unmasks the courageous, flawed individuals who inhabited this wilderness of mirrors—including the spymaster at the heart of it all, George Washington.



I was inspired to check this one out because of the show ‘TURN’ which is loosely based off this. I love spies, so why not see the real spies at work. 

I certainly learned a lot! There were so many things I didn’t know. I feel like with all aspects of history we will never know the full extent. Millions of stories to be told.  But this was even more interesting because the spies in this ring never wanted glory. They never really told their spy stories. They got through the war and went back to their lives. They are true heroes who were glossed over for years. 

I liked to compare/contrast the characters depicted in the show and what the real characters were like. The show did well. Sure, they Hollywood-ized things. Added character, removed characters. Overdramatized areas and glossed over other things. But overall the show did an okay job based on the truth. 

This was informative, but it wasn’t boring. The narrator did a good job making it interesting. The writer also did a good job bringing this to life. I would for sure use this in a classroom. It is informative but not dull and boring. I do wish, though, that there had been more information on tactics and missions of our spies. BUT there probably really isn’t much to go on since it was all secretive and the players in the Ring never really talked about it. So, I get it. But I wish there had been more. 

What else to say? 

Very interesting overall. I would’ve loved to be a spy! Not in this modern era because it is too high tech for me. It’s a rough and scary life, but I think I would do well. Plus I wouldn’t have to fight. LOL Just sneak around and act. Fun!

Overall, if you liked the show I do suggest giving this a read. The audio version was pretty good. The narrator did an excellent job adding life to the words. I’ll give this 4 stars. 





4 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

TUrn is so impossible to buy and no one shows it here. ANd non.fic is no nonfic

Carole Rae said...

Maybe xmas ;)

Anna (herding cats-burning soup) said...

Interesting but boring. lol I can understand that.

Carole Rae said...

The curse of nonfiction