Donovan

America’s Master Spy

By: Richard Dunlop, William Stephenson - foreword

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

Length: 25 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

The fascinating biography of the man who laid the foundation for the CIA. One of the most celebrated and highly decorated heroes of World War I, a noted trial lawyer, presidential adviser and emissary, and chief of America’s Office of Strategic Services during World War II, William J. Donovan was a legendary figure. Donovan, originally published in 1982, penetrates the cloak of secrecy surrounding this remarkable man.

During the dark days of World War II, "Wild Bill" Donovan, more than any other person, was responsible for what William Stevenson, author of A Man Called Intrepid, described as the astonishing success with which the United States entered secret warfare and accomplished in less than four years what it took England many centuries to develop. Drawing upon Donovan’s diaries, letters, and other papers; interviews with hundreds of the men and women who worked with him and spied for him; and declassified and unpublished documents, author Richard Dunlop, himself a former member of Donovan’s OSS, traces the incredible career of the man who almost single-handedly created America’s central intelligence service. The result is the definitive biography that Donovan himself had always expected Dunlop would write.

©1982, 2014 Richard Dunlop (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Fantastic biography of a little known cold-warrior

Excellent coverage of an important American hero. I think he had America's best interest at heart, and it's good to hear this story about what made the man

A must read

Tens of thousands of heroic actions and decisions by the greatest hero of the 20th century that very few know about. This was a hero who put personal duty above personal advancement unlike 99.98% of histories great figures

Good story about a little known hero

Reader was rather monotone. Very little expression and virtually no pauses at important points in the story. For example, the story includes an incident where a child drank some poison, and the reader just keeps going at the same pace, same tone as if nothing important happened. If you weren't paying attention, you could easily miss it.
The story of Donovan is quite incredible, almost as if he was perfect in every way. But it does sound like he made some great contributions to the world of intelligence and espionage on the part of the U.S. especially during WWII. Interesting how that helped to win the war.

Fascinating, prescient guy

Had no idea the scope of Donovan's accomplishments. Highly recommended addition to understanding the present.

Fascinating Biography

For the past 4 years I have been reading books about World War One, therefore I found the section about Donovan service in WWI most interesting. Donovan was the most decorated American soldier in WWI. The author covered Donovan’s WWI service in-depth and anyone interested in learning more about WWI would find this book helpful. I had just finished reading Caesar Commentaries so when I read that Donovan was reading a French translation of Caesar Commentaries with comments by Napoleon it jumped right out at me.

Richard Dunlop was a journalist for the Chicago Tribune and a former OSS agent in World War II. He passed away in 1987. Sir William Stephenson was a Canadian soldier, spy master and oversaw British Intelligence for the Western Hemisphere during World War II. His code name was “Intrepid” and is thought to be the inspiration for James Bond.

Dunlop and Stephenson’s book is a light weight biography of Donovan. This book was first published in 1982. The audio book was published in February of 2014. If you want a detailed and long book read Anthony Cave Brown’s “The Last Hero: Wild Bill Donovan.”
The book covers an overview of Donovan’s life from childhood in Buffalo, New York and his education at Columbia University and Columbia Law School. During World War I Donovan served in the famous New York fighting 69th Irish Regiment where he received numerous decorations. Donovan was the only person to have received all four of the United States’ highest awards: The Medal of Honor, The Distinguished Service Cross, The Distinguished Service medal with two oak leaf clusters and the National Security Medal. He also was awarded the Silver Star and a Purple Heart with two Oak Clusters. He was awarded medals by all the Allied countries. At the end of World War One he left the Army as a Colonel. After World War One Donovan returned to his Wall Street law practice and he was active in New York politics as well as a friend of FDR.

In WWII FDR created the OSS on the advice of William Stephenson, the British Intelligence officer for the Western Hemisphere. The United States had no intelligence network. FDR then appointed William Donovan as its head. The book covers an overview of Donovan’s work with the OSS during WWII. Donovan was promoted to Major General during WWII. Donovan continued to head the OSS under President Truman and when it was dissolved at the end of the war he helped Allen Dulles set up the CIA that Truman had just created.
After World War II Donovan reverted to his life as a lawyer he was special assistant to Chief Prosecutor Telford Taylor at the Nuremburg War Crimes Tribunal. In 1953 President Dwight Eisenhower appointed Donovan as Ambassador to Thailand.

Dunlop was given access to Donovan’s private papers and spoke with Donovan for hundreds of hours in preparation for writing this biography. The book is well written and most interesting. Eric Martin narrated this book. If you are interested in WWI or WWII history this is a book for you. This book provides an excellent overview of the life of William Donovan.

Outstanding story! Eloquently told.

I felt like I was with William J Donovan every step of the way of his life. Amazing person, hero and fantastic patriot. Take the time to listen to this.

Audible Requires Reviews Now....

...and that is a bunch of crap. I gave it five stars,that should be enough.

Wild Bill

This was an excellent biography of Bill Donovan. Eric Martin's narration was splendid. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel like I have a much better understanding of Bill Donovan’s role the creation of our intelligence service.

enjoyed it as much as George Marshals biography- first class

I enjoyed it as much as George Marshals biography- first class biography anyone interested in 20th century history will be glad

Tough Guy

It is a great story and history of an American patriot. If the politicians had listened to him we could avoided the Vietnam war.