RAVE - The Irregulars - Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington, by Jennet Conant

Breezily written account of the lengths Winston Churchill went to in order to persuade America to enter the War properly.

A network of thousands of British and Canadian undercover operatives working in North and South America, manipulating public opinion and political action to out-maneuver American isolationists.

Full of juicy gossip about wealthy, adulterous Washington society, albeit 70 years old now. Roald Dahl - better known for writing Gremlins, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - rubbed shoulders with fellow "spies" Noel Coward, David Ogilvy (of Ogilvy & Mather advertising fame), Charles Hambro (who later became director of Hambro's Bank and many other successful corporations) and Ian Fleming (who later invented James Bond). Not only did each of these players go on to make serious coin, Fleming used many of their circle as inspirations for characters in his Bond stories.

This is my favorite kind of history - where you get educated and entertained at the same time.