Reviews
Berman has done an excellent job… There's plenty here for both supporters and critics of the Vietnam War to ponder., Berman has done an excellent job. There's plenty here for both supporters and critics of the Vietnam War to ponder., "Larry Berman in his book--insightful, overdue, an authentic 'Shock and Awe' story--deftly humanizes the contradictions in An's life" -- -Bernard Kalb "Berman has done an excellent job... There's plenty here for both supporters and critics of the Vietnam War to ponder." -- Dan Southerland, former correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor in Saigon "Berman has unraveled the mystery of his strange double life in an engrossing narrative." -- Stanley Karnow, author of Vietnam: A History and winner of the 1991 Pulitzer Prize in history Praise for NO PEACE NO HONOR "A marvelous piece of work." -- Daniel Ellsberg Praise for NO PEACE NO HONOR "Carefully researched, authoritative, and highly readable." -- Stanley Karnow, author of Vietnam: A History Praise for LYNDON JOHNSON'S WAR "A masterful job." -- Marvin Kalb Praise for LYNDON JOHNSON'S WAR "Highly readable, full of telling quoted from newly opened sources." -- Walter Lafeber Praise for LYNDON JOHNSON'S WAR "Berman has delivered the coup de grace." -- Townsend Hoopes "A remarkable blend of biography, history, and personal experience... Highly recommended." ---A.O. Edmonds -- Library Journal, Larry Berman in his book-insightful, overdue, an authentic 'Shock and Awe' story-deftly humanizes the contradictions in An's life, "A remarkable blend of biography, history, and personal experience... Highly recommended."---A.O. Edmonds (Library Journal), Larry Berman in his book—insightful, overdue, an authentic 'Shock and Awe' story—deftly humanizes the contradictions in An's life, "A remarkable blend of biography, history, and personal experience... Highly recommended."---A.O. Edmonds
Synopsis
During the Vietnam War, Time reporter Pham Xuan An befriended everyone who was anyone in Saigon, including American journalists such as David Halberstam and Neil Sheehan, the CIA's William Colby, and the legendary Colonel Edward Lansdale--not to mention the most influential members of the South Vietnamese government and army. None of them ever guessed that he was also providing strategic intelligence to Hanoi, smuggling invisible ink messages into the jungle inside egg rolls. His early reports were so accurate that General Giap joked, "We are now in the U.S. war room." For more than twenty years, An lived a dangerous lie--and no one knew it because he was a master of both his jobs. After the war, An was named a Hero of the People's Army and was promoted to general--one of only two intelligence officers to ever achieve that rank. In Perfect Spy , Larry Berman, who An considered his official American biographer, chronicles the extraordinary life of one of the twentieth century's most fascinating spies. In doing so, he offers a new perspective on a war that continues to haunt us., During the Vietnam War, "Time" reporter Pham Xuan An befriended many American journalists and soldiers. No one knew he was a spy providing strategic intelligence to Hanoi. Here, Berman chronicles the extraordinary life of one of the most fascinating spies of the 20th century., During the Vietnam War, Time reporter Pham Xuan An befriended everyone who was anyone in Saigon, including American journalists such as David Halberstam and Neil Sheehan, the CIA's William Colby, and the legendary Colonel Edward Lansdale--not to mention the most influential members of the South Vietnamese government and army. None of them ever guessed that he was also providing strategic intelligence to Hanoi, smuggling invisible ink messages into the jungle inside egg rolls. His early reports were so accurate that General Giap joked, "We are now in the U.S. war room." For more than twenty years, An lived a dangerous lie--and no one knew it because he was a master of both his jobs. After the war, An was named a Hero of the People's Army and was promoted to general--one of only two intelligence officers to ever achieve that rank. In Perfect Spy, Larry Berman, who An considered his official American biographer, chronicles the extraordinary life of one of the twentieth century's most fascinating spies. In doing so, he offers a new perspective on a war that continues to haunt us.