Declassified: 50 Top-Secret Documents That Changed History
Adult/High School—Allen presents scans of original documents followed by clear commentary detailing the events surrounding the texts. The book covers a wide span of time, making it a resource that will pique the interest of almost any history lover. Highlights include a simple baker uncovering a British spy during the American Revolution, Stalin's support of Kim Il Sung during the Korean War, and a report sent to George W. Bush in August 2001 suggesting the possibility of an attack on U.S. soil organized by Osama bin Laden. Largely focused on the U.S., the volume does include documents and tales from the Soviet Union, Germany, France, Israel, and a handful of other nations. Chapters are arranged by theme, such as "The Secret State" and "Espionage Accidents," making this an easy read. The primary-source material of spy stories, shrewd political moves, and hidden aspects of war shows how conflicts between nations persist during times of peace. The book also serves as a good quick-reference tool. An index allows users to look up documents by nation, major historical figure, and subject. Thought-provoking and enjoyable, this unique collection tells stories often neglected in history class.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.