Jennet Conant documents the peculiar World War II duties of British writer Roald Dahl, author of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and JAMES AND HE GIANT PEACH, who spent his time spying on the Washington elite and trying to manipulate America into the war. Dahl originally fought in the war as a Royal Air Force pilot, but a terrible crash left him with a fractured skull and a temporary loss of vision. Lingering effects of the injury eventually grounded Dahl, who was sent to work in the British Embassy in Washington, where he used his charm and good looks to insinuate himself with the socialites and gain access to the White House. Working alongside fellow spy and writer Ian Fleming, Dahl frequented country clubs and social clubs, and passed along whatever gossip and pillow talk he accumulated to his superiors.

Describes the covert intelligence operations of allied forces during World War II as experienced by wounded RAF pilot Roald Dahl, a patriot who used his charm and wits to infiltrate the upper reaches of Georgetown society and who worked with such figures as Churchill, Roosevelt, and spy chief William Stephenson to influence U.S. policy in favor of England. Simultaneous.

Describes the covert intelligence operations of allied forces during World War II as experienced by wounded RAF pilot Roald Dahl, a patriot who used his charm and wits to infiltrate the upper reaches of Georgetown society and who worked with such figures as Churchill, Roosevelt, and spy chief William Stephenson to influence U.S. policy in favor of England. Simultaneous.