Description
Book SynopsisThe definitive study of the "Hungarian man of mystery", shadowy spymaster J. Peters
Trade Review"Sakmyster has skillfully constructed the first (and only) full-scale biography of the hitherto mysterious high-level American Communist Party functionary most well known by one of his many pseudonyms, 'J. Peters.' Highly Recommended."--
Choice "This exhaustively researched book offers an important appraisal of a communist official and spy who has long been shrouded in obscurity. It is indeed a significant addition to the history of American communism and Soviet espionage."--Katherine A. S. Sibley, author of
Red Spies in America: Stolen Secrets and the Dawn of the Cold War"Highly recommended to anyone who wants to gain insights into the less sensationalized but nevertheless, relentless conspiracy of the CPUSA in attempting undermine the American system of democracy."--Journal of the American Hungarian Educators Association
"A lively and well-written book, and the best life story yet published in English of a particular Communist type: the professional revolutionary who lived virtually his entire life in the shadowy netherworld where legality shaded into illegality and loyalty to Moscow and the world revolution trumped national identity."--Harvey Klehr,
The Weekly Standard"A welcome addition to the ongoing discussion of the nature and experience of American communism."--
The Journal of American History"There has long been a need for a biography of J. Peters. Thomas Sakmyster has mined all requisite American and Hungarian/Russian Federation archives, creating a thoroughly researched and extremely well written portrait that puts not just a face but an entire wardrobe on the mysterious J. Peters."--R. Bruce Craig, author of
Treasonable Doubt: The Harry Dexter White Spy CaseTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii
Abbreviations ix
Introduction xiii
1. Sandor Goldberger: From Hungary to the New World 1
2. The Making of J. Peters, 1931-32 25
3. J. Peters in the 1930s: The Organization Man 39
4. J. Peters and the Secret Apparatus 56
5. Whittaker Chambers and the "Washington Set-up" 74
6. J. Peters's Espionage Ring, 1934-38 91
7. From Peters to Stevens: Life in the Underground 111
8. Dueling with "the Feds," 1943-48 130
9. Trial and Deportation 149
Epilogue and Assessment 169
Notes 193
Bibliography 235
Index 245
Illustrations appear after page 90
