Elyse Graham, professor and historian at Stony Brook University, has written a fascinating study that sheds light on an underexplored aspect of World War II history: the role of academics in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the CIA. Graham, whose educational pedigree includes degrees from MIT, Princeton, and Yale, brings an impressive scholarly background to this project. Her book explores the surprising ways in which librarians, literature professors, and historians were recruited into the world of intelligence gathering and undercover operations. This blending of academic skill and espionage may seem unusual at first glance, yet Graham demonstrates convincingly that the research skills, language expertise, and cultural knowledge of these scholars made them uniquely valuable to the OSS.The strength of Graham’s work lies in her use of primary sources. She draws from a remarkable range of archival material, including collections housed in multiple university libraries, declassified OSS files, Freedom of Information Act requests to the CIA, and even rare documents obtained from European book dealers. This wealth of sources allows her to construct detailed narratives about individual scholars who transitioned from lecture halls and reading rooms to the world of wartime intelligence. Unlike many works on espionage that rely heavily on secondary analysis or official accounts, Graham’s reliance on original documentation provides fresh perspectives and a degree of authenticity that makes the stories compelling and persuasive.At the heart of Book and Dagger are three case studies: Adele Kibre, an archivist; Joseph Curtiss, a professor of literature; and Sherman Kent, a professor of history. Together, they illustrate the surprising but highly effective ways in which scholarly expertise was repurposed for intelligence work. Kibre exemplifies how archival training and linguistic skill could unearth vital information hidden in books, photographs, and other printed material about Nazi Germany. Curtiss, drawing on his literary and cultural knowledge, gathered intelligence while posing as a rare book buyer for Yale University. Kent, meanwhile, applied his historian’s eye for analysis and organization to strategic assessments, even turning seemingly mundane data—such as calculating the number of pellets in an aircraft shell—into valuable insights for the military. By focusing on these individuals, Graham not only brings their personal stories to life but also situates them within larger questions about the intersection of intellectual labor and national security.Stylistically, Book and Dagger is written in a clear, concise, and engaging style. Graham avoids the overly dense language that sometimes characterizes academic histories, opting instead for a narrative voice that is both accessible and entertaining. Footnotes are used liberally, providing readers with additional context and references while never overwhelming the flow of the main text. This balance makes the book suitable for a wide range of audiences. For undergraduate students and professional historians, the book offers a solid foundation of research, while general readers with an interest in history, espionage, or the humanities will be captivated by its clear and compelling storytelling.If the book has a weakness, it lies in Graham’s choice to occasionally include “imagined scenes” in order to fill in gaps in the historical record. While she is transparent about these moments, noting that they are not documented fact, some readers may find this approach problematic in a work of history. However, Graham justifies this decision by emphasizing that these imagined reconstructions serve to highlight the contributions of women and marginalized groups who were often excluded from official records. In this sense, her approach is not only defensible but also meaningful, as it draws attention to the silences and omissions that shape the way history is written.Ultimately, Book and Dagger stands out as an original and engaging contribution to the historiography of World War II. By recovering the overlooked stories of academics turned spies, Graham broadens our understanding of who participated in the war effort and how intellectual skills could be mobilized for national defense. The book’s careful research, lively prose, and commitment to telling inclusive stories ensure that it will be of lasting interest to scholars and general readers alike.
Lindsey Schmitz (Sun,) studied this question.