John Chartres was in British intelligence in 1920, and was then secretary on the Irish side during the treaty negotiations of 1921. The book considers whether he remained in British intelligence or whether in fact he was a genuine convert to the Irish cause.

Recently released papers make it possible to tell not only the story of the early days of the Department of Foreign Affairs but also reveal a gun-running connection between Chartres and John T. Ryan acting for Joe McGarrity in America. The telling of this life story also sheds new light on Michael Collins.