Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS

I don't normally go for "women's history" books, but I've been reading everything I can on the OSS and this seemed like an interesting side of it. With that attitude, I totally underestimated the stories contained within. As expected, there are chapters on individual women who accomplished extraordinary things during the days of the OSS. The greater value, though, is that by telling even a sentence or two about the many, many women who worked as clerks, analysts, drivers, etc., you get a much better view of the structure of the organization. Many intelligence books concentrate on the medal-winning heroic acts. Here you get those stories plus a clear picture of who was recruited and how; how the offices worked; how information was gathered, analyzed, and consumed; and basically what it was like to work in the organization at the levels below superhero. I have a much better understanding of the day-to-day operations from reading this book. (P.S. I am a woman so don't flip out over my opening statement.)

I don't normally go for "women's history" books, but I've been reading everything I can on the OSS and this seemed like an interesting side of it. With that attitude, I totally underestimated the stories contained within. As expected, there are chapters on individual women who accomplished extraordinary things during the days of the OSS. The greater value, though, is that by telling even a sentence or two about the many, many women who worked as clerks, analysts, drivers, etc., you get a much better view of the structure of the organization. Many intelligence books concentrate on the medal-winning heroic acts. Here you get those stories plus a clear picture of who was recruited and how; how the offices worked; how information was gathered, analyzed, and consumed; and basically what it was like to work in the organization at the levels below superhero. I have a much better understanding of the day-to-day operations from reading this book. (P.S. I am a woman so don't flip out over my opening statement.)

...and it is well done, by one of the "Sisterhood." Very engrossing, and goes to show how valuable their contributions were during wartime. They didn't just type and file papers--they were in the thick of it as well as the men. It's about time that their role was given the recognition it deserves!

Elizabeth McIntosh's book is riveting and incredibly spellbinding. The role women played in the OSS and other spy organizations often times goes unknown and unhearlded. McIntosh, who served in the OSS, carefully and completely chronicles the role of women in this dangerous and life-threatening profession. As I set out to write a fictional screenplay about women spies in WWII, this book serves as a good source of giving me the spirit and flavour of what it was like in the 1940's. My days in Military Intelligence, albeit in the U.S. Army Reserves in the 1970's, was interesting and at times exciting, but nothing like the real cloak and dagger portrait so eloquently painted by Mrs. McIntosh. I have been attempting to contact her to set up an interview, but have been unable to find out where she resides in the Leesburg, VA area. I strongly recommend this wonderful book. It will keep you engaged from the first page to its last. 5 STARS do not give this book the recognition it deserves. Buy it. Read it!

I have been an avid reader of espionage books for some time. I believe that Elizabeth McIntosh has written an excellent book covering the role of the women involved in the OSS's clandestine operations during WWII. This is an insightful account of how many women (most, if not all the OSS women were well educated, well traveled, and in many cases multilingual) repeatedly endured physical and mental hardships, and risked their lives to help the greater war effort. Unfortunately, the work of Amy Thorpe, Virginia Hall, Maria Gulovich, and others have not been acknowledged until now. I am proud and grateful that these women decided to serve their nation, and only hope others will follow. This book should be an inspiration to any female who wants to serve her country.