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The History List

"Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring" - Signed by the author Alexander Rose

"Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring" - Signed by the author Alexander Rose

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Turn: Washington’s Spies and an original series on AMC

Paperback (384 pages), signed by the author, Alexander Rose, and inscribed if you choose. 

Updated November 19: The hardbound editions are sold out. We continue to have paperback editions.

An important note on shipping: This book is shipped directly from the author using Media Mail. If you ordered other items from the store, this book will be shipped separately. Allow at least two weeks for delivery of your signed book.

About the book

 

Based on remarkable new research, acclaimed historian Alexander Rose brings to life the true story of the spy ring that helped America win the Revolutionary War. For the first time, Rose takes us beyond the battlefront and deep into the shadowy underworld of double agents and triple crosses, covert operations and code breaking, and unmasks the courageous, flawed men who inhabited this wilderness of mirrors—including the spymaster at the heart of it all.

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.

Reviews

 

“Alexander Rose tells this important story with style and wit.” — Pulitzer Prize–winning author Joseph J. Ellis
 
“Fascinating . . . Spies proved to be the tipping point in the summer of 1778, helping Washington begin breaking the stalemate with the British. . . . [Alexander] Rose’s book brings to light their crucial help in winning American independence.” — Chicago Tribune
 
“[Rose] captures the human dimension of spying, war and leadership . . . from the naive twenty-one-year-old Nathan Hale, who was captured and executed, to the quietly cunning Benjamin Tallmadge, who organized the ring in 1778, to the traitorous Benedict Arnold.” — The Wall Street Journal
 
“Rose gives us intrigue, crossed signals, derring-do, and a priceless slice of eighteenth-century life. Think of Alan Furst with muskets.”—Richard Brookhiser, author of Founding Father
 
“A compelling portrait of [a] rogues’ gallery of barkeeps, misfits, hypochondriacs, part-time smugglers, and full-time neurotics that will remind every reader of the cast of a John le Carré novel.” — Arthur Herman, National Review

About the Author

Alexander Rose is the author of several non-fiction books, including Empires of the Sky, Men of War, American Rifle, and the New York Times best-selling Washington’s Spies, which was the basis of the AMC original series Turn. He writes the free Substack newsletter, Spionage, and is on Twitter at @AlexRoseWriter. His website is www.alexrose.com.

An important note on shipping: This book is shipped directly by the author using Media Mail. If you ordered other items from the store, this book will be shipped separately. Allow at least two weeks for delivery.

 


Shipping

Key dates for the 2024 holiday shopping season

  • December 13 at 2 pm Eastern: Our recommended deadline for domestic Christmas delivery via USPS. While we can't guarantee delivery, regardless of carrier, our hope is that if you order by December 13, USPS will have be able to get orders to domestic addresses by Christmas. This date is more conservative than the date published by USPS. We want to be sure that everyone gets their gift in time. Important: Does not include personalized items, signed books, or Rare Finds. See below for more information on these.

  • December 19 at 2 pm Eastern: Orders for in-stock items received by 2 pm Eastern Thursday through Friday will ship the same day if you specify UPS 3 Day Select delivery. Important: Does not include personalized items, signed books, or Rare Finds. See below for more information on these.

  • December 23 at noon: The last day to ship orders before Christmas. If you want to have something shipped overnight, call Lee Wright at 469-233-7712 by noon Eastern to find out whether that's possible and the shipping charge.
     
  • Fulfillment will be closed from December 24 through January 1.

For personalized items, signed books, or Rare Finds purchased after December 13

  • If you purchase a personalized item, signed book, or Rare Find item after December 13 and want it delivered by Christmas, contact Lee Wright as soon as you make your purchase to see what the options are. (If it turns out that it won't get to you or the gift recipient by Christmas, we will give you an immediate refund and will also recommend alternative gifts.)

 

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We try to ship orders within three business days of receiving them. This applies to in-stock items. Framed items or items requiring personalization may take up to two weeks longer. If there is an extended delay, it will be noted on the product page.

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We ship most orders via USPS, so if the post office is closed, we won't be shipping orders that day.

If you need to receive your order by a certain date, such as to give as a gift or have for a trip, we recommend ordering at least two weeks in advance, especially if you are using USPS shipping. 

If you're looking for reliable, on-time deliveries, we strongly suggest upgrading to "UPS 3 Business Day Select Shipping."

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  • When fulfillment takes longer, such as around the Christmas holidays, we'll put up an announcement in the site and will list recommended shipping deadlines below.
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      • $5.95 for shirts, caps, unframed prints and posters, bracelets, lapel pins, pendants, button packs.

        Regardless of the number of items you order, the shipping price is still fixed at $5.95. Our flat rate shipping means you can add another t-shirt, cap, or book for no additional shipping charge.

      • $8.95 for hooded and crewneck sweatshirts, mugs, and blankets.

    We strongly recommend using UPS, especially in November and December.

      UPS 3 Business Day Select 

      Note: UPS 3 Business Day select is not available for addresses in Hawaii and Alaska. If UPS is selected for Hawaii or Alaska, the order will be shipped UPS Ground.

      Cut off time: Orders received by 8 am Eastern will ship the same business day.  Orders received after that time will ship the next business day. Applies to in-stock items that do not require personalization or signing. 
        UPS's normal (non-holiday) delivery guarantee is by the end of the third business day, and this includes delivery on Saturday.  This applies to the 48 contiguous states. 
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          • $18.95 for hooded and crewneck sweatshirts, mugs, and blankets.
          • If the actual shipping cost is significantly higher than what we’re charging, we will contact you to discuss alternatives.

        • UPS Overnight (Next Business Day Delivery)
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        Additional charges for all destinations

        Some large, heavy items may have an additional shipping charge.  If that's the case, it will be noted on the product page.

        If the actual shipping cost is significantly higher than what we’re charging, we will contact you to discuss alternatives.

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          Customer Reviews

          Based on 3 reviews
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          R
          Ronald F.
          1776

          All the stuff was great, just as promised. Will buy more, Thanks. You are great Americans…Utah Commission Co-Chair on America250

          J
          John C.
          Washington’s Spies

          Great book, history before unknown to most.

          J
          James B.
          It's a gift

          I bought as a gift for a friend, so I couldn't give a review.