Lost in the Stacks: Monopoly X

Monopoly: boredom buster or prison break? Why not both? During World War II, both British and American military intelligence agencies surreptitiously helped prisoners of war by sending special Monopoly sets to POW camps throughout Europe. The doctored games weren’t a Get Out of Jail Free card, but the saws, compasses, maps and money cunningly hidden under the Monopoly game board could aid POWs in their escapes.

The duplicitous Monopoly game board was only one piece in this game of wartime deception. In Philip Orbanes’ Monopoly X you’ll meet daring spies who used Monopoly references to verify identities. You’ll crack complex codes with a Monopoly board as the key. And you’ll learn some fascinating tidbits about Monopoly itself including the astonishing fact that Parker Brothers didn’t know until years later that their game was an instrument of war.

Packed with thrilling escapes and international intrigue, Monopoly X is a winning choice for World War II buffs, spycraft readers and lovers of Monopoly.