{"title":"Thomas Christensen","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the captivating works of Thomas Christensen, a distinguished author in the realm of Biography \u0026amp; Memoir. Known for his engaging narrative style, Christensen brings history to life, offering readers an insightful journey into the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of his notable works, \u003cem\u003eLost in the Cold War\u003c\/em\u003e, delves deep into the enigmas of a pivotal era, unearthing stories that are both compelling and enlightening. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Christensen crafts a narrative that not only informs but also captivates, making history accessible and intriguing for readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a history enthusiast or new to the genre, Thomas Christensen’s collection is bound to enrich your understanding of significant past events, enriching your perspective with every turn of the page.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"lost-in-the-cold-war-by-john-t-downey-9780231199124","title":"Lost in the Cold War","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1952, John T. \"Jack\" Downey, a twenty-three-year-old CIA officer from Connecticut, was shot down over Manchuria during the Korean War. The pilots died in the crash, but Downey and his partner Richard \"Dick\" Fecteau were captured by the Chinese. For the next twenty years, they were tortured, put through show trials, held in solitary confinement, placed in reeducation camps, and toured around China as political pawns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOther prisoners of war came and went, but Downey and Fecteau's release hinged on the United States acknowledging their status as CIA assets. Not until Nixon's visit to China did Sino-American relations thaw enough to secure Fecteau's release in 1971 and Downey's in 1973.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLost in the Cold War\u003c\/em\u003e is the never-before-told story of Downey's decades as a prisoner of war and the efforts to bring him home. Downey's lively and gripping memoir—written in secret late in life—interweaves horrors and deprivation with humour and the absurdities of captivity. He recounts his prison experiences: fearful interrogations, pantomime communications with his guards, a 3,000-page overstuffed confession designed to confuse his captors, and posing for \"show\" photographs for propaganda purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough the eyes of his captors and during his tours around China, Downey watched the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the drastic transformations of the Mao era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn interspersed chapters, Thomas J. Christensen, an expert on Sino-American relations, explores the international politics of the Cold War and tells the story of how Downey and Fecteau's families, the CIA, the U.S. State Department, and successive presidential administrations worked to secure their release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855802618092,"sku":"9780231199124","price":52.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8047943482270.jpg?v=1759278388"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/thomas-christensen.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}