Gentleman Spy: The Life of Allen Dulles

This is a well-researched, splendidly written biography of a very complex man, a real enigma. Even though the book is a decade old, its subject matter is still relevant today. Highly recommended.

What a great book! If you are a history buff like me, you'll love this book. Allen Dulles, former lawyer, former diplomat, former OSS Operative, former President of the Council on Foreign Relations, for Director of the CIA (under Eisenhower and Kennedy), and brother of the Secretary of State (John Foster Dulles who the airport is named after), and member of the establishment -- this book is quite a treat. It takes us through the post-WWI years and then through WWII where Dulles was stationed for OSS in Bern. It then details the formation and escalation of the Cold War. Grosse does a terrific job detailing Dulles's public and personal lives. Highly recommended.

I just finished this book and it was an excellent read. The life of Allen Dulles is remarkable and deserves to be known. If you live in the Washington, D.C. area, then this is a required book.

"Gentleman Spy" is more than just the life of one man, Allen Dulles. It's the development of the United States into a super power and of the build-up of a massive intelligence network. At the center or sometimes fringes of all this dwelled Allen Dulles. Dulles' influence on intelligence gathering and covert activities still dominates our country, even though he left the CIA over 35 years ago. His love for the great game of espionage inspired young disciples who in turn became key leaders of the intelligence community. It's easy to praise or blame Dulles for many of the problems that we are still experiencing today due to lack of honest or accurate analysis, or involvment in the affairs of duely elected foreign governments. Peter Grose has mapped Dulles life in this massive biography and has done an excellent job of exploring Dulles' mind as to why he did what he did. The book is never boring. Dulles set the image of the "American Gentleman Spy," as being witty urbane and downright ruthless. Peter Grose has provent hat Dulles blended himself into that image seamlessly.