Prisoner of Lies

“Werth relies on Downey’s own account of his ordeal, but he skillfully locates this intriguing story, with its interrogations, trials, and false hopes, in the wider context of U.S.-Chinese relations.”– “Foreign Affairs”“A vivid chronicle of an era filled with intrigue and with lies that only added to the tragedies of those enmeshed in them… . Mr. Werth’s riveting book is an eloquent tribute to Downey’s steadfast character and courage.”–Andrew Nagorski “The Wall Street Journal”“The riveting story of the longest-held American prisoner-of-war … offers a unique lens on prisoner swaps… . More than a hero of American spycraft, Downey was its martyr.” – “The Economist””[A] thoughtful and engaging narrative of Downey’s life and captivity… . Shares something of the appeal of Laura Hillenbrand’s World War II survival story Unbroken – a tale of resilience in the face of almost unthinkable misfortune.“–Kevin Peraino “The New York Times”“Gripping… . A thrilling spy story and informative Cold War exploration.”– “Kirkus Reviews (starred review)”“Readers will revel in Werth’s raw and unsparing depiction of international power politics and a brave American hero.”– “Booklist”“Barry Werth’s Prisoner of Lies is many things: a bracing saga of survival, a post-war history of government hubris, and a painful example of the consequences of America’s anti-Communist fervor. Most of all, though, it is a thrilling story about the fortitude, determination and courage of Jack Downey, the man who spent more years in a Chinese prison than any other American.”–Joe Nocera, coauthor of The Big Fail: What the Pandemic Revealed About Who America Protects and Who It Leaves Behind“In this real-life spy thriller, a brave young American survives the cruelty of both sides in the Cold War. Jack Downey is the resilient hero of this astonishing saga, told by a writer in full command of his material. You will not soon forget this shocking tale.”–Kati Marton, author of The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel“It’s difficult to grasp what Jack Downey went through in his Chinese imprisonment - and just as difficult to grasp how he was able to recover from it so thoroughly and so fruitfully. In Barry Werth, Downey’s story has found the perfect writer: thorough, fair, insightful, and most of all empathetic. This is an important book.”–Daniel Okrent, author of The Guarded Gate: Bigotry, Eugenics and the Law That Kept Two Generations of Jews, Italians, and Other European Immigrants Out of America“This long-overdue book cuts through the web of deceit that shaped one of the most dramatic secret episodes of the Cold War. Written with restrained outrage, it is both the story of one remarkable CIA officer and of the government that abandoned him. Thrilling, richly informative, and infuriating.”–Stephen Kinzer, author of The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War

Barry Werth is an award-winning journalist and the acclaimed author of seven books. His landmark first book, The Billion-Dollar Molecule, recounts the founding and early struggles of a start-up pharmaceutical company. Werth’s articles have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and GQ, among others. He has taught journalism and nonfiction writing at Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Boston University. He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.