OSS in ChinaPrelude to Cold War
"A significant account of the wartime exploits in China of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), the intelligence agency that was later to become the CIA. . . . An important story of bureaucratic infighting, jealousies, incomprehension, and ultimate failure."—Kirkus Reviews "Yu's history of OSS in China shows an intelligent understanding of both the Chinese and American scenes. His research in OSS files and Chinese records is skillful, and his insights into intelligence activities are far-reaching and important."—Robin W. Winks "A landmark study."—Frederic Wakeman, Jr. "A fascinating story of the intelligence activities of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in China during World War II."—Library Journal "This book by an assistant history professor at the U.S. Naval Academy is of special interest because it is based, in large part, on the formerly classified records of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in the U.S. National Archives. The author has an interesting story to tell, and he tells it well. His book can be read with profit as both an account of one aspect of U.S. relations with China during World War II and a case study of the evolution of U.S. intelligence in one important country."—Joseph A. Yager, World Intelligence Review "This book has made a path-breaking contribution to the study of the history of US intelligence and of Sino-American relations. Basing his research on an extensive use of recently declassified OSS archives and reinforced by a wealth of related Chinese source materials, author Maochun Yu reconstructs a fascinating narrative of America's wartime espionage experience in China. . . . This book provides a rather comprehensive account of OSS's activities in China. Written in a lucid style, this serious historical book makes smooth and pleasant reading like a well-written novel. . . . This is an important and solid historical study that anyone who is interested in the history of US intelligence and of Sino-American relations will enjoy reading."—Jian Chen, Chinese Historians "Based on newly declassified U.S. documents and newly published Chinese Source materials, Yu's book provides a fascinating narrative of the activities of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in China during WWII. . . . For specialized graduate collections on foreign policy and security studies."—Choice "The fascinating story is told in clear prose. The book adds immensely to our understanding of wartime—and postwar—U.S.-Chinese relations."—Akira Iriye, History "A coherent and enthralling narrative."—Anthony Farrar-Hockley, Asian Affairs "OSS in China sheds light on a murky period in U.S.-China relations while giving valuable insight into Chinese nationalism and recounting events that led to the creation of the CIA. It's a valuable history lesson, one that any reader would find interesting."—Foreign Service Journal "Maochun Yu's book OSS in China: Prelude to Cold War is easily the most comprehensive examination to date of OSS activities in China during World War II. . . . [The book] is easily the most complete and comprehensive volume to date examining World War II operations of the OSS in China."—Lieutenant Gene J. Del Bianco, Parameters "Meticulously researched and well reasoned, Yu's groundbreaking study provides news insights into America's wartime experience in China. Scholars who may in the future choose to explore any aspect of this fascinating subject will undoubtedly rely on this book as a point of departure for their work."—Kirk Ford, American Historical Review "Yu is a master of analysis in explaining the enormous organizational problems that OSS faced in China. . . . Yu's balanced monograph, based on an impressive command of English and Chinese sources, will serve as a model for historians of intelligence and will inspire many scholars of Sino-American relations during and after the Second World War."—Christof Mauch, International History Review "This is a gripping account of the establishment and of the operations of OSS in China, a genesis that was constantly overshadowed by personal rivalries in Washington, in the army establishment and field."—Barbara Barnouin, World Affairs "The first comprehensive scholarly study of US wartime intelligence operations to be based on recently declassified archival sources. Well written and rich in terms of the variety of Office of Strategic Services (OSS) activities covered, the book operates at a number of levels. . . . A treasure trove of information on the politics of wartime intelligence as practised by the US, Britain, and China. . . . [A] superb account."—Stephen R. MacKinnon, China Journal "In this masterful monograph, Maochun Yu undertakes 'the almost impossible' task of writing the history of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in China during World War II. . . . The result is a fascinating, readable, but ultimately depressing, look at the OSS in wartime China. Quite simply, Yu relates a dismal story of American intelligence failure and shows how it influenced immediate postwar Sino-American relations."—Lewis Bernstein, Military Review "A well written and thoroughly researched book. . . . Yu's excellent study opens a curtain on the intrigue and discord among the multitude of organizations in the theatre. Combined with new information from Chinese sources and accounts of hazardous missions by OSS teams, the result is a significant book that belongs in your personal library."— Cryptologia "A fresh, well researched, and highly readable account of the American experience in China during World War II."—Yu Shen, The Journal of Military History
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