The Liberation of Marguerite Harrison

book coverThe Liberation of Marguerite Harrison, America’s First Female Foreign Intelligence Agent, was published by Naval Institute Press in September 2020.

This biography explores the fascinating life of Marguerite Harrison, a Baltimore socialite, newspaper reporter, and the first woman assigned by the Military Intelligence Division to work overseas. Her assignments included gathering intelligence in Germany at the conclusion of World War I and Russia following the Bolshevik Revolution. She was captured and imprisoned in Russia–twice.

Despite many failings, Harrison proved a woman could work in the foreign service not because of her sex appeal, but because of her skill and intelligence.