Strangers on a Bridge

More about the book

Originally published in 1964, this insider account of the Cold War spy exchange is now the basis for the major motion picture Bridge of Spies, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks. With a new foreword by bestselling author Jason Matthews, the narrative unfolds on February 10, 1962, as James B. Donovan walks toward the Glienicke Bridge, the “Bridge of Spies,” linking West Berlin to East. Accompanying him is Rudolf Ivanovich Abel, a master spy and chief of Soviet espionage in the U.S. Approaching from the other side, guarded heavily, is Francis Gary Powers, the American U-2 pilot shot down by the Soviets, whose exchange Donovan negotiated. This dramatic meeting symbolizes the clash of two worlds. Abel, a gifted and enigmatic spy, was revealed during his trial in Brooklyn and the Supreme Court, showcasing Soviet espionage methods. Donovan, appointed to defend Abel, skillfully navigated the complexities of the case. In this memoir, the lead prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials presents a compelling blend of procedural drama and character study, reading like a noirish thriller. Featuring unseen photographs, trial notes, and sketches from Abel’s prison cell, this account offers a captivating historical narrative that is both fascinating and exciting.