Chapters 1-4 Summary and Analysis

William Stephenson, born in Western Canada, served with the Royal Canadian Engineers and then the Royal Flying Corps in World War I. He began to write reports assessing the German air capability. After being shot down and captured in Germany, he escaped and wrote a detailed report on German prison camps. Stephenson was then assigned to be a test pilot. At this time, William Wiseman became the chief of British Secret Intelligence Service in Washington, a post he was to hold through World War I.

In Chapter Two, World War I is over. Stephenson attends Oxford specializing in radio communications. He taught at the University of Manitoba and became interested in public broadcasting. His interest along with two other men, led to the formation of the British Broadcasting Company. At this time, there was a lot of scientific work...