Journey to Peking: A Secret Agent in Wartime China

Rating:
Summary: Sharp, tight writing.
Review: I cannot recommend enough Mr. Pinck's tale/memoir. Throughout my reading of this book I was constantly impressed with the clean, understated, wry writing style of Mr. Pinck.

Every bit as engrossing and sincere as WWII memoirs such as Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed" (but askew and differing in the experiences retold), Pinck's book offers an endearing and unpretentious yarn set amidst the massive and convoluted backdrop of the China-India-Burma theater. The characters are painfully and believably real, with the story having no patina of time or nostalgic filtration.

Anyone interested in the history of WWII, Asia, US Intelligence Services, or memoirs of colorful distinction will surely enjoy this very readable book by Dan Pinck.

At the risk of sounding crass, this story would make for an excellent film.








Rating:
Summary: The Literary Spy
Review: In WWII Dan Pinck journied to China to spy on the Japanese for Wild Bill Donovon's fedgling intelligence agency, then known as the OSS (now better known as the CIA). Mr. Pinck's account of his tour of duty spent in a Christian mission with an eccentric priest, a lovesick radioman and his savvy translator, is both humurous and literary. Through descriptive language and detailed sketches Pinck renders the harsh living conditions and genial, wine loving spirit of the Chinese people. While Pinck may read like Turgenev, one cannot ignore his own distinct style with which he captures the desolation and all too human trepidation of a young spy completely out on his own in a foreign land dealing with Japanese troops, unreliable agents, drunk Chinese generals, coy Chinese girls and by the book superior offiecers. Pinck has given us a true experience which displays the WWII generation's triumphant brand of American spirit, which at once possessed pragmatism, courage, humility and humor. A truly enjoyable read!

Rating:
Summary: A Truely Excellant Spy Story
Review: We have all seen the James Bond films with the infamous agent mindlessly trudging around behind enemy lines, wooing women and slaughtering hordes of stereotypical bad guys. Mr. Pinck's novel is an intellectually stimulating story his experiances in wartime China, spent in a mission deep behind enemy lines. Although lacking in some of the glitz and glamour of the Ian Flemming's classic spy novels, his tale is equally intrigueing. With interesting characters such as his witty and cocksure cabbie in Peking to his radio operator's double agent girlfriend, the author, in beautiful prose, weaves and intiguing war story. Despite its lack of "shoot'em up" action, the story wonderfully portrays not only China and the interesting characters Mr. Pinck meets, but the beauty and wonder of this ancient land. The drunkness, sickness and heart break faced in the book are all pulled togather in this wonderful book.

All in all this is a great read that will keep you spell bound to the end. This is truly one of the best cloak and dagger stories I have read in a long while.