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Donovan cover art

Donovan

By: Richard Dunlop, William Stephenson - foreword
Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
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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other papers; interviews with hundreds of the men and women who worked with him and spied for him; and declassified and unpublished documents, author Richard Dunlop, himself a former member of Donovan’s OSS, traces the incredible career of the man who almost single-handedly created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.

What listeners say about Donovan

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What a life!

What a life this remarkable man had and how lucky America and the World was to have him at the time that it did.

The narration was monotone and pretty awful but the story itself was so riveting that I persevered to the end and was pleased I did.

I have a feeling that Bill Donovan would be dismayed at the antics of the CIA since his death. It's a great pity he wasn't its first director as he would have set it on the right course and perhaps avoided so many of the outrages it has caused in America and throughout the world.

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Inspiring Story

A brilliant and well researched bio. The narration was absolutely dreadful. I’m unsure but I believe this was an automated voice. With little in the way of changes in tone or pitch. If possible I’d ask for a refund and buy the book.

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not intersting not one spy story

It is about his political fight to keep the organazation open-and some exchange of letters. Very annoying. I thought the "spy master" would have a few detailed spy operations. it did not

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