International intrigue, varied love affairs, and clandestine operations to topple governments all marked the life of Allen Dulles (1893-1969) who is regarded as the keystone figure in the history of American intelligence. Dulles was appointed as the first civilian director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1953, previous directors had been military officers, and was a member of the Warren Commission which investigated the assassination of President Kennedy. This definitive biography, goes beyond the life of this one fascinating man, and documents the creation of a massive intelligence network and the development of the United States into a super power. The influence of Dulles on intelligence gathering and covert activities still resonates today. Author Peter Grose has years of experience in foreign affairs both as a journalist and a State Department official and he paints a detailed picture of the powerful, moneyed world of international politics that most of us never see, but which shapes the course of modern history.