Affair Of State, An

The insightful political thriller first published at the dawn of the Cold War, from the author of the postapocalyptic classic, Alas, Babylon

In Pat Frank’s riveting, insightful, and thought-provoking novel, young, outspoken Jeff Baker comes out of World War II determined to work for the State Department. When he lands his assignment in 1949, he becomes the third secretary of the US embassy in Budapest, an observation post behind the Iron Curtain.

Jeff’s experiences as a soldier fighting on a hill in Italy left him scarred and instilled in him a hatred for war in all forms—including the emerging Cold War. But when he is assigned to the "Atlantis Project," a top-secret mission for organizing an underground resistance in Hungary, he grapples with his beliefs and his loyalty to his superiors. And when he meets Rikki, a dancer in Budapest, he also finds himself torn between this new love and Susan Pickett—the love he left back home in Washington.

As he becomes more immersed in the Atlantis Project, Jeff must decide what he is willing to risk for a chance to strike a blow for peace.

Part cloak-and-dagger adventure, part high-voltage romance, and part biting satire, Pat Frank's writing and sense of detail takes readers back to a time of intrigue and uncertainty.

"Pat Frank" was the lifelong nickname adopted by the American writer, newspaperman, and government consultant, who was born Harry Hart Frank (1908-1964), and who is remembered today almost exclusively for his post-apocalyptic novel Alas, Babylon. Before the publication of his first novel Mr. Adam launched his second career as novelist and independent writer, Frank spent many years as a journalist and information handler for several newspapers, agencies, and government bureaus. His fiction and nonfiction books, stories, and articles made good use of his years of experience observing government and military bureaucracy and its malfunctions, and the threat of nuclear proliferation and annihilation. After the success of Alas, Babylon, Frank concentrated on writing for magazines and journals, putting his beliefs and concerns to political use, and advising various government bodies. In 1960 he served as a member of the Democratic National Committee. In 1961, the year in which he received an American Heritage Foundation Award, he was consultant to the National Aeronautics and Space Council. From 1963 through 1964 the Department of Defense made use of Frank's expertise and advice, and this consultancy turned out to be his last response to his country's call. His other books include Mr. Adam and Forbidden Area.

THE INSIGHTFUL POLITICAL THRILLER FIRST PUBLISHED AT THE DAWN OF THE COLD WAR, FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE POSTAPOCALYPTIC CLASSIC ALAS, BABYLON Young, outspoken Jeff Baker comes out of World War II determined to work for the State Department. When he lands his assignment in 1949, he becomes the third secretary of the US embassy in Budapest, an observation post behind the Iron Curtain. Jeff's experiences as a soldier fighting on a hill in Italy left him scarred and instilled in him a hatred for war in all forms--including the emerging Cold War. But when he is assigned to the "Atlantis Project," a top-secret mission for organizing an underground resistance in Hungary, he grapples with his beliefs and his loyalty to his superiors. And when he meets Rikki, a dancer in Budapest, he also finds himself torn between this new love and Susan Pickett--the love he left back home in Washington. As he becomes more immersed in the Atlantis Project, Jeff must decide what he is willing to risk for a chance to strike a blow for peace. Part cloak-and-dagger adventure, part high-voltage romance, and part biting satire, Pat Frank's writing and sense of detail take readers back to a time of intrigue and uncertainty.

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