Marooned in Moscow: An American Woman Imprisoned in Soviet Russia

by Marguerite Harrison, William Benton Whisenhunt (Editor)

In February, 1920, Marguerite E. Harrison crossed into Russia through the Polish Front as a correspondent for the Baltimore Sun. She spent 10 months in prison as a result...

Genres: Memoir, Russia

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 2010

About the author

Marguerite Elton Harrison (1879–1967) was an American reporter, spy, filmmaker and translator. She was also one of the four founding members of the Society of Woman Geographers.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The previous remarks I made, I've lost: I messed up.

Marguerite insists she made up her mind to make investigations (go spy the land). She accepts that curiosity gets the better of her all too often. She enters Russia illegally and with a good amount of fast-talking and a wee bit of deceit gets herself transported along with red army escorts to Moscow, which is where she wanted to be.
I can't recommend this enough: this is her account, from her memory, of every aspect of life in revolutionary Moscow. She was arrested, imprisoned and when asked to leave was not allowed to take her notes with her. Her memory must be of the highest order. I would have thought this memoir must be considered of utmost historical importance. Other work by western journalists/dignitaries in Russia during that time are seen as such. At times I couldn't believe the level of risk she took and not for her benefit but to help others: the starving, prisoners, her colleagues.

I'll write more once I'm done.

I'm done:

Spy-Jouralist? I'm not to convinced. She admits to 'spying the land' (sending reports back to her paper). Her reports were all cleared with the relevant Bolshevik agency before being sent: not spying, as I or Mr Dukes accept spying to be. She was not asked by her government or any other to make investigations: not spying, as I or Mr Dukes accept spying to be. I think though, she must have had what it takes to be a Grade A spy (intelligence officer). She could make friends (the most important quality of an intelligence officer). Don't doubt that: since I've been with GR, I've learnt lots about being a spy. I paid close attention to what Harry Collins had to say. You also need nigh on a photographic memory, better still an actual photographic memory: Marguerite's got one.
She made friends with diplomats, administrators, street vendors, the poverty stricken, prisoners and prison officers and kept record, in the finest of detail, of life for all at that time. Remind you of anyone? Marguerite refers to Paul Dukes in this account. She does not admit to meeting him. She's lucky to have survived: your luck will only stretch so far: attractive woman, articulate, educated, bright as a new penny, widowed. And Paul turned the head of many a damsel. She must, I'm sure, have met him in The States later down the line. Paul Dukes travelled to the U.S. and toured giving lectures on the 'Red Morrow'. And, I'm a thinking that, because....
During this account, Marguerite steers clear of voicing her opinion on the political merits/drawbacks/failures and future for the Bolshevik regime, until the final pages. Just as Paul Dukes did in 'Red Dusk and the Morrow'.
Also, I'm of the opinion they're pretty much in tandem on the subject. You can't blame Marguerite, Paul is a dish. I'd love to read her diaries!

[Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, an incredible insight into the social dynamics inside Russia immediately post the revolution. The lady and she is definitely a true lady had that knack of reading people, finding empathy, and making friends: which all of the veterans, of The Roads Chosen, know are the essential attributes required of a field agent (that's spy talk). The spies are the sources, the assets, who steal the goods. The field agents are handlers of the spies. Was the lady a spy? If she was, she ain't admitting to it.

She was a journo with an unquenchable curiosity; at one point she must have thought, 'Crikey. What have I got myself into.' She was lady with a big heart and a mind as sharp as a razor. She does remind me of a few others I read of recently.

I can't fault the lady, I wish I had her gumption. A brilliant read.

[Mircea Petcu · Rating 5 out of 5]

O descriere realista a conditiilor din perioada de inceput a Unionii Sovietice. Autoarea consemneaza contradictiile, lipsurile si arestarile CEKA ("teroarea rosie"). Nu a "vazut viitorul". Vorbele celebre apartin trimisului special Bullitt, in 1919. Acesta avea sa devina primul ambasador american in Uniunea Sovietica, perioada in care se va transforma intr-un anticomunist convins.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible story; the idea of a woman, alone, venturing into a hornet's nest during the early years on Bolshevik Russia captured my mind.

A terrific read.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed every page. She was an incredible woman. This is her account of her time in Moscow: as a woman, I found this so worthy. She kept her dignity and her repute within what was a very male dominated chaos.

[Cosmin]

O poveste de spionaj remarcabilă, o imagine panoramică interesantă asupra vieții în Rusia postrevoluționară :)

[Poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An American journalist marooned in Russia by a fledgling and disfunctioning bureaucracy, then falsely imprisoned without any evidence and finally released when someone came to their senses.

Not a spy, just brave, adventurous, caring and loyal.

A wonderful read: Mrs Harrison, a person I had not ever heard of, must one of the world's greatest women.

This is what will keep kids in school. This is what motivates kids to learn about the world we live in: and in the words of my most favourite man, "They [education] need to get a grip."

[Dottie (I'm not dotty) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marguerite was no fool: she was very brave. A spy?

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great account by another incredibly brave interloper in Post-Revolutionary Russia: another putting safety and well-being at great risk and involving herself in amazing feats in an effort to help others. I can only admire the author.

This period in our history has become utterly captivating for me.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone this is a quite incredible story. For the girls it is even more so. She's without doubt highly intelligent and determined, yet enters Russia on a wing and a prayer: the paperwork authorising her entry is cobbled together using tales and deceit. With more double-talk she manages to hitch a ride to Moscow, diving willingly, illegally, and solo into a society at war, knowing that if arrested what is likely to happen is unthinkable.
With high doses of wit and empathy, she shows she's able garner respect and hold her own within a patriarchal society.
I can but admire her, even though I think the decision to take on such a challenge was completely unnecessary and flawed.

[Anchali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere does the author gave the impression she was acting as a spy. I know nothing of spying. She was a foreign journalist: my reading is that she made up her own mind to sneak into Russia because she personally wanted to understand what was happening (little was being sent out from the country post the revolution).

Maybe this is not the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Maybe someone decided to put the word 'Spy' in to title to tempt readers.

She was brave, resourceful generous and kind.

I very much enjoyed the book.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm in awe of this woman.

[Barby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This account of spy Marguerite Harrison’s time in Russia is a fascinating read. At no point does she mention anything about her real mission there, but that’s understandable given secrecy around such things.
She writes well and describes the Russian society immediately post Revolution with humour, mixed with sobering details. Her skill with languages is enviable too!