In the early days of World War II a young Marine named Charles Fenn was recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, the fore-runner of the CIA) for undercover operations in the China–Burma–India theatre. Fenn had been a foreign correspondent in Asia, and Wild Bill Donovan’s new outfit wanted a man there who already knew the lay of the land. Fenn turned out to be an excellent choice and a remarkable spy. He knew exactly what it took to get the job done – blowing up a bridge carrying Japanese troops across the Yalu, manning secret radio stations in Chinese convents, undermining enemy morale, rescuing airmen from Japanese prisons, and getting to know an up-and-coming Vietnamese leader named Ho Chi Minh.

Fenn’s wartime exploits are the stuff of legends, but not even his OSS compatriots knew the full extent of his espionage activities. Fortunately, Fenn’s skill as a spy is matched by his talent as a storyteller, and this witty, elegantly written account of his OSS days not only adds to the historical record, it makes for a compelling read.