Washington's Spies: An Evening with Alexander Rose

Author Alexander Rose discusses espionage and the Revolutionary War at George Mason University

Join us for an evening with author Alexander Rose! George Mason University Libraries invites the acclaimed historian to Merten Hall Room 1201 for the latest presentation in their popular Historical Intelligence Speaker Series.

Rose's book Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring inspired the AMC television series TURN: Washington's Spies. He will tell the story of George Washington's personal intelligence network, the Culper Ring, at a moment of heightened interest in Revolutionary War history as Americans commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding.

Most recently, he published Phantom Fleet: The Hunt for Nazi Submarine U-505 and World War II's Most Daring Heist, which chronicles a secret U.S. Navy mission that took place shortly before D-Day. Both books will be available for sale at the event, courtesy of Bards Alley. After his talk, Rose will stay for a signing.

This event is free, but registration is required. RSVP here: https://alumni.gmu.edu/s/1564/GID2/16/interior-1colb.aspx?sid=1564&gid=2&pgid=9660&content_id=16856

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexander Rose is the author of numerous books, including The Lion & The Fox, Empires of the Sky, Men of War, American Rifle, and the New York Times-bestselling Washington’s Spies, which was adapted into the AMC drama series Turn: Washington’s Spies, for which he served as a writer/producer. He writes the Spionage Substack and his website is www.alexrose.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the summer of 1778, with the war poised to turn in his favor, General George Washington desperately needed to know where the British would strike next. To that end, he unleashed his secret weapon: an unlikely ring of spies in New York charged with discovering the enemy’s battle plans and military strategy.

Washington’s small band included a young Quaker torn between political principle and family loyalty, a swashbuckling sailor addicted to the perils of espionage, a hard-drinking barkeep, a Yale-educated cavalryman and friend of the doomed Nathan Hale, and a peaceful, sickly farmer who begged Washington to let him retire but who always came through in the end. Personally guiding these imperfect everyday heroes was Washington himself. In an era when officers were gentlemen, and gentlemen didn’ t spy, he possessed an extraordinary talent for deception—and proved an adept spymaster.

The men he mentored were dubbed the Culper Ring. The British secret service tried to hunt them down, but they escaped by the closest of shaves thanks to their ciphers, dead drops, and invisible ink. Rose’s thrilling narrative tells the unknown story of the Revolution–the murderous intelligence war, gunrunning and kidnapping, defectors and executioners—that has never appeared in the history books. But Washington’s Spies is also a spirited, touching account of friendship and trust, fear and betrayal, amid the dark and silent world of the spy.