Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy

by Anne Sebba

New York Times bestselling author Anne Sebba's moving biography of Ethel Rosenberg, the wife and mother whose execution for espionage-related crimes defined the Cold War and horrified the world.

In June 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a couple with two young sons, were led separately from their prison cells on Death Row and electrocuted moments apart. Both had been convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union, despite the fact that the US government was aware that the evidence against Ethel was shaky at best and based on the perjury of her own brother.

This book is the first to focus on one half of that couple for more than thirty years, and much new evidence has surfaced since then. Ethel was a bright girl who might have fulfilled her personal dream of becoming an opera singer, but instead found herself struggling with the social mores of the 1950's. She longed to be a good wife and perfect mother, while battling the political paranoia of the McCarthy era, anti-Semitism, misogyny, and a mother who never valued her. Because of her profound love for and loyalty to her husband, she refused to incriminate him, despite government pressure on her to do so. Instead, she courageously faced the death penalty for a crime she hadn't committed, orphaning her children.

Seventy years after her trial, this is the first time Ethel's story has been told with the full use of the dramatic and tragic prison letters she exchanged with her husband, her lawyer and her psychotherapist over a three-year period, two of them in solitary confinement. Hers is the resonant story of what happens when a government motivated by fear tramples on the rights of its citizens.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, True Crime, Politics, Historical, Espionage

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 8, 2021

About the author

Anne Sebba began her writing career at the BBC world service, Arabic section, while still a student. After graduating from King’s College, London in Modern European History, she worked as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in London and Rome, the first woman Reuters accepted on their Graduate Trainee Scheme. In 1975 she moved to New York with her husband and first baby returning two years later with a second baby and first book. From then on she was launched into a freelance career as a journalist, biographer, cruise lecturer and occasional broadcaster and is now also an officially accredited Nadfas lecturer. She has worked for many writers’ organisations including PEN Writers in Prison Committee and the Society of Authors chairing its Management Committee from 2013- 2015 and followed her bestselling biography That Woman, a life of Wallis Simpson, based on the discovery of 15 secret letters which Wallis wrote to her second husband Ernest Simpson, with Les Parisiennes : How the Women of Paris lived, loved and died in the 1940s published in the UK and US in 2016.

Reviews

[Holly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The true story of Ethel Rosenberg, the wife and mother whose execution for espionage-related crimes is documented by the author.

The author certainly does a thorough job of researching the case and her conviction, but the way the story was presented was too flat for me. I was bored throughout and never "felt" invested in learning more about her or her husband.

Tedious is what this one turned out to be (for me anyway). What sounded like a fascinating account read like a research report. I do appreciate all the information and background/research the author included (as well as prison letters).

If you enjoy in-depth accounts with some political and cultural side notes, you may really enjoy this one. I do enjoy true cases and trials, but I was just the wrong reader this time.

Thanks to NG and the St. Martins for my advanced review copy. OUT on June 8, 2021

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.


Felt like a need for a bit of nonfiction. Post-WWII America in the era of McCarthyism is not an era I often venture into and I didn't really know much about the Rosenbergs except that they were tried and convicted of being spies.

Well-researched, easy to read but I still have lots of unanswered questions about this time period. I appreciated that the author tried to show all sides. It definitely was a crazy period of history. So I shall look out for other titles.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage. They met their fate in the electric chair just minutes apart. Over the decades since, it has been speculated that the evidence against Ethel was weak, and that others gave evidence against her to save themselves from prosecution. Anne Sebba obviously thoroughly researched Ethel -- her life, her choices, her personality, love for her two sons, the life of a woman that ended in a public spectacle trial and execution brought on by fear of communism. Was Ethel guilty of being a spy, aiding and abetting spies, or helping pass information to the Russians? Sebba presents the facts she discovered during her research and then, for the most part, leaves readers to make their own conclusions.

I'm not sure of my opinions on a case that was concluded 15 years before my birth. In the past the 1950's were idealized as some sort of a perfect family time, a peaceful happy time following WWII -- but the reality is much more dark. There was prevailing racism, sexism, political witch hunts, antisemitism, just a prevailing cesspool of garbage thought and shitty ideals. I don't have enough of the facts in this case to actually form an opinion on the trial and execution of the Rosenbergs. Until I read this book and started doing side research of my own to learn more about the case, I had no idea there was another defendant, Morton Sobell, and that others were jailed for obstruction and other charges during the case. All that was ever mentioned in history books when I was in school was that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage and passing nuclear secrets to the Russians along with verbage about the evils of Communism.

Were the Rosenbergs guilty? I'd have to do a lot more research to have a firm opinion. But I do know Author Anne Sebba, and many others, believe that Ethel was not. I do know that the aftermath for her children was horrific -- they were left orphaned because family members refused to take them in. There is a documentary on HBOMax, Heir to an Execution, made by the Rosenberg's granddaughter about the execution and its aftermath. Did the Rosenbergs have have activist, fringe political beliefs....yes. As many did back then....as many did in later years....as many do now. But were they -- or Ethel in particular -- spies? Or were they victims of McCarthyism?

Very interesting book that evoked many different emotions for me. I definitely want to read and learn more about this case.

The Audiobook version of this book was narrated by Orlagh Cassidy. She did a phenomenal job. Her reading pace was perfect. Her voice is easy to listen to. And she put the right amount of emotion into it. Very well done.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book from St Martins Press, and listened to a review audiobook from MacMillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 thoughts soon.

[Kimba Tichenor · Rating 4 out of 5]

In June 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed after being convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. Since their execution, numerous authors have penned tomes on the couple and the US government’s case against them. However, this is the first biography that endeavors to place the primary focus on Ethel Rosenberg, whose guilt on the charges unlike that of her husband remains a question of controversy. The book is also the first to draw extensively on the letters that Julius and Ethel exchanged while imprisoned. The incorporation of these letters allows the author, Anne Sebba, to provide a more nuanced and intimate account of Ethel’s relationship with Julius, her children, her mother, and her brother than has previously appeared in print—one, which readers are sure to find compelling.

As the subtitle indicates, Sebba portrays Ethel’s conviction and subsequent execution as an “American tragedy”—the product of a perfect storm of injustice, intense societal fears of Communism, antisemitism, preconceived notions of womanhood to which Ethel failed to conform, familial betrayal, bad luck, and bad decisions on the part of the couple. While earlier biographies of the couple have certainly highlighted how McCarthyism, antisemitism, and the choices made by the couple contributed to the harsh decision handed down by the court, they left unexplored how 1950s notions of femininity also played a role in the lack of public sympathy for the couple. Sebba’s exclusive focus on Ethel allows this dimension to come to the forefront. Ethel, as the author shows, was lambasted by the press for failing to conform to 1950s expectations about how women should present themselves in public. The shoddy, less-than-stylish clothing in which she appeared at trial was portrayed by reporters as a clever disguise by a manipulative woman. In contrast, her sister-in-law, Ruth Greenglass, against whom there was substantial evidence of spying but who was never arrested, was praised by the press for her stylish appearance. In fact, it was Ruth’s damning testimony, along with that of her husband David (Ethel’s brother), that placed Ethel at the center of the conspiracy. In the case of Ethel’s brother, this testimony was a complete about-face from what he had told FBI agents following his arrest. Worse yet, Ethel’s mother not only sided with Ethel’s brother, but also took great pains to tell FBI agents that she knew that her daughter was guilty. This betrayal, about which Ethel initially remained silent during the trial, is broached in her post-conviction letters to her husband. The depth of her hurt at these betrayals as well as her concerns about her children’s future are brought home to the reader through these letters. The end result is a highly sympathetic and convincing portrait of Ethel Rosenberg as a woman who had abandoned political activism by the early 1940s in favor of studying child psychology in an effort to overcome her self-perceived shortcomings as a mother.

Yet despite these insights into family dynamics and the role played by gender stereotypes in Ethel’s convictions, there are times in this narrative where Ethel seems to recede into the background—most likely, precisely because unlike her husband, Ethel was not involved in espionage. Thus, to tell the espionage story, the author by necessity must shift the lens to other actors in this drama, including Julius Rosenberg, David Greenglass, the prosecutors Irving Saypol and Roy Cohn, and J. Edgar Hoover. Moreover, on occasion, the author makes claims or inserts opinion without providing any supporting evidence or making any convincing argument. For example, at one point, the author asserts that communism inevitably leads to totalitarianism, thus seemingly conflating Stalinism with communism—a debatable thesis, at best. At another point, she claims that certain phrasings in letters between Ethel and Julius were obviously written for public consumption but does not tell the reader how she reached this conclusion. These shortcomings, however, are minor and do not detract significantly from what is otherwise a thoughtful and intimate portrait of Ethel Rosenberg.

As for the narration of this audiobook, Orlagh Cassidy does a superb job. Unlike many narrators for works of nonfiction, Cassidy does not confuse projecting an objective tone with using a monotone voice that drones the reader into sleep. She also does not try to infuse the letters with drama by using a more theatrical tone; instead, she allows the words of Ethel’s letters to communicate the angst that she felt in those final days before her execution, knowing that she would not live to see her children grow up.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rosenberg case emerges in popular culture now and then as some vague symbol of the Cold War. The facts, if they were ever clear, have long since been lost. Anne Sherba has provided a long overdue treatment of Ethel Rosenberg by assembling her story from the dispersed legal and media records and through in person interviews. The book, while short is comprehensive covering Ethel’s life from the cradle through its afterlife.

Sebra shows that Ethel was clearly a victim. She was first a victim of her family where her mother’s low esteem for her was carried on by the family. She was a convenient target for her brother who exhibited the depth of this pecking order when he testified that it was Ethel who assisted in his espionage work, not his wife, who actually did. Sebra shows that it was not only the family dynamic that conspired against Ethel, it was the ethos of the US in at the time regarding communism, the attitude towards women and prejudice towards Jews.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were communists as was Ethel’s brother, David Greenglass, which was despised, but not illegal. David made the drawings of atomic weaponry that were given to Julius to give to his Soviet contact. David made some money on this, Julius (a very true believer) did not. There is, and was, plenty of evidence that both David and Julius were guilty of espionage. David mitigated his own sentence by testifying against his brother-in-law Julius and implicating his sister, Ethel.

On page 238, Sebra reports David’s 2001 admission of his betrayal of his sister. David (long after a name change), on "60 Minutes", 79 years old, “heavily disguised” says what was suspected over many years, that “he lied in court”. His testimony on which his sister’s life hung in the balance was based on the “recollection of his wife Ruth rather than his own first hand knowledge”.

To a biographer, who paid him for an interview he further disclosed that (also p. 238) that it was Ruth who did the work he testified was done by Ethel: “I told them (the FBI) the story and left her (Ethel) out of it … but Ruth put her back in…" Asked why he testified otherwise, he said "My wife was more important to me than my sister”.

Sebra paints a very good picture of the times and their influence on events. Successfully finding and prosecuting spies was a boost for any career or reputation. For instance J. Edgar Hoover, felt the “look” of electrocuting a woman and mother of two (whom he knew to be of dubious involvement) was worth the risk since it may prompt Julius or Ethel to implicate others. Roy Cohn who as a prosecutor cut his teeth on this case, pressured David to give manufactured facts and also influenced the judge. Regarding appeals, Sebra shows how the doors closed one by one, having little to nothing to do with the facts of the case.

The Rosenberg’s two children and their children have shown resiliency. Sebra shows how Ethel tried to protect them and the obstacles she faced in just seeing them. Through the caring and sympathy of Julius’s family and friends of the couple, after the execution their names were changed and they were able to become the citizens who, while not communists, have become the adults (and have raised grandchildren, now adults) that their parents could be proud of.

While the book is short - there is no filler – every paragraph supports the story. There is a lot of background for each of the above topics.

I highly recommend this book to all readers of history, law, the role of women in the 1950’s, the situation of American Jews after WWII and similar topics.

Highly recommended.

[Maine Colonial · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic advance review copy from the publisher, via Netgalley.

Note: I write quite a bit about this book and historical events in this review. I don’t believe in spoiler-tagging non-fiction, but if you don’t want to know about the Rosenberg history and later information revealed about events at the time, you should not read further. On to the review.

You’re probably familiar with the story of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who went to the electric chair in 1953 for having passed nuclear and other military information to the Soviets during World War II. There is no doubt that Julius was a spy for the USSR, but there have always been questions about whether Ethel was also a participant or merely had knowledge of what Julius was doing.

Julius was arrested in 1950, after physicist Klaus Fuchs confessed that he had passed on information to the Soviets when he was a physicist working to develop the atomic bomb at the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Fuchs’s confession traced a line to David Greenglass, Ethel’s younger brother, who had a low-level job at Los Alamos, and David fingered Julius a contact and the man who recruited him, via David’s wife, Ruth.

By the time of these arrests, anti-Communist fever was at its peak in the US, and prosecutors were out for blood. On their team was the to-be-infamous Roy Cohn. When Julius Rosenberg refused to admit to being a Communist or a spy, or to give information about his contacts, the prosecution team used David and Ruth to put increased pressure on him by having them change their testimony to draw Ethel into the scheme. Soon Ethel, a homemaker with two small boys, was jailed as well. Like Julius, she refused to cooperate, even though she was agonized about her sons.

After an appallingly conducted trial, the Rosenbergs were convicted in early 1951. The judge, who could fairly be described as strongly pro-prosecution, sentenced them to death. Even J. Edgar Hoover had doubts about the wisdom of executing a mother of young children and, not surprisingly, the sentence sparked worldwide protests. But protests, pleas for clemency, and appeals were to no avail and the Rosenbergs were executed in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison on June 19, 1953.

In the years since her death, Ethel Rosenberg has fascinated many writers from Sylvia Plath to playwright Tony Kushner, whose Angels in America fantasizes an encounter between Ethel’s ghost and Roy Cohn as he is dying of AIDS. Now Anne Sebba attempts to provide insight into Ethel’s character and actions. We learn a good deal about Ethel’s childhood with a cold mother who much preferred David. While David was unintelligent and lazy, Ethel was scholarly and burned with ambition. But when she met Julius, she was happy to marry and settle into homemaking and being a mother, as was expected in the 1950s.

In recent years, a good deal of additional information has come out about the Rosenbergs, via the release of information in the US and in decrypted intercepts with Soviet intelligence. The information confirmed that Julius was, indeed, a spy for the USSR, though at a time when they were allies of the US. But there is no confirmation that Ethel had any active role in the spy ring. What’s more, the released information makes it clear that David and Ruth perjured themselves when they accused Ethel of being involved. Sebba describes how David and Ruth became jealous of the smarter and better-off Rosenbergs and were easily persuaded to save themselves by throwing Ethel to the Red-hunting wolves.

I appreciate getting to know more about Ethel Rosenberg in this book. It really bothers me, though, that it seems as if Julius Rosenberg did little to try to save his wife, even though by all accounts they had a devoted marriage, and if both were executed their sons would be orphaned. As disgusting as I thought David was to throw his sister under the bus to save himself and his wife (who was actually actively involved in the spy ring), at least it’s understandable that he wanted to save his wife.

A lesson from this book that resonates today is how the public can be whipped up into a hysterical frenzy of fear and hatred, which sweeps through politics, the judiciary and government. Truth and justice are sacrificed so that a twisted fairy tale of good and evil can be told. Ethel Rosenberg’s story is, indeed, an American tragedy. Have we learned anything from it?

[Gisela · Rating 1 out of 5]

A tragedy? I'd suggest the book is, in more ways than some might believe; and in more ways than some might want to admit.

Well-written and from a noted and respected author and journalist; and awarded great accolades by many noted fellow journalists and authors...

It is apparent that the author spent a great deal of time on the subject: the subject being the innocence of Ethel.

A great deal of time is devoted to showing us just how wonderful a wife and mother Ethel was. We learn about the hardships she and her family faced in growing up. In that growing up, we should all try to remember that Ethel Rosenberg's father, Barney Greenglass, was a Russian immigrant. Also, and worth note, Julius Rosenberg's parents were both Russian Immigrants. I wonder how harsh her growing would have been if she had been born in Russia.
The author tries, very, very hard indeed to highlight the tragedy of an execution justified by little and questionable evidence.
Ethel Rosenberg was an American citizen and very, very lucky to be so. In Russia, back in Stalin's day, the punishment for being suspected of being a traitor, by even the most scant of evidence, in almost all cases was summary execution.

Published in 2021 after extensive research, Ms Sebba looks to find every fibre of evidence to prove Ethel was a victim of a terrible injustice. In pursuit of her one-sided argument, I did at times become a mite tired of it all and I will admit I struggled to finish it.

Often when opinions are divided we see the rise of the apologists (those that excuse a person’s behaviour by trying to deflect attention or cast a fragment of doubt, when all along the weight of evidence points in only one direction).

Their Trade is Treachery, published in 1981 and Too Secret Too Long, published in 1985, both by Chapman Pincher, I read a few years back. And, which I will pick up again when I visit my parents at the end of the month. So at risk of a not so watertight memory and hence being shot down in flames, may I suggest that Pincher set out to show the treachery of certain highly placed government agents. He does underline on a number of occasions how certain departments and individuals are guilty of picking up on the slightest inaccuracy and using that to debunk everything else said: regardless of where the overwhelming weight of evidence points.

I’m sure Ms Sebba, as a journalist (and all her friends) of such repute must have read Mr Pincher's works (a journalist and historian of fame and repute).

Ms Sebba remarks on the Venona tapes and how they can be - and have been - interpreted in such a way that really suggests Ethel Rosenberg was making pie in the kitchen whilst her husband was selling out the country which gave his parents a free and liberal life.

The Venona tapes took years upon years to decipher, Ms Sebba mentions those deciphered in the early days: 'only 19 of 3,000 documents mention sweet and innocent Ethel'.

In 2009 comprehensive notes from KGB archives (Vassiliev Notebooks) evidence the fact that the KGB saw Julius Rosenberg as a productive agent and 'his wife Ethel as an enthusiastic supporter of his work'.

"In 2014, five historians who had previously published works based on the Rosenberg case wrote that newly available Soviet documents show that Ethel Rosenberg hid money and espionage paraphernalia for Julius, served as an intermediary for communications with his Soviet intelligence contacts, relayed her personal evaluation of individuals whom Julius considered recruiting, and was present at meetings with his sources. They support the assertion that Ethel persuaded her sister-in-law Ruth Greenglass to travel to New Mexico to recruit her husband David Greenglass as a spy. Other historians, though, [the apologists] argue that this evidence demonstrates only that Ethel knew of her husband's activities and chose to keep quiet."

Ethel Rosenberg was guilty [she chose to keep quiet] of treason and more importantly she betrayed a country that gave her parents a life of freedom, removed from fear and terror.

As you may have noted, I'm angered. My grandparents on both my mother and father's side were Italian and left at a time when fear and terror were rife. As child, my parents reminded their children of just how lucky they are and how the entire family will forever be in debt to this fine and free country (Australia).

I wonder if Ms Sebba ever reminds herself of the luxury she lives under.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-searched and intimate look at a little-understood woman who holds a major place in American history. She was the first and only American female executed for espionage. Brought under suspicion because of her husband’s activities, it’s been long speculated whether Ethel was truly as guilty as presumed and if she deserved the electric chair along with her husband. With the deep understanding and detailed background provided by the author, you can form your own opinion. Throughout the book, Anne Sebba stays neutral in her judgment, leaving room for the reader to reach their own conclusions. In her synopsis, she brings all the facts together, adds the advantage of hindsight, and eloquently presents her conclusions for your consideration.
Right, wrong, or indifferent, you can’t help but have some emotional tuggings for Ethel. She’s brought to life in such detail; such cut and dried exchanges with friends and family, her clothing choices, her style, her quiet nature, her love for her little boys up to the hour she was escorted to her death.
This is a moving, informative, and deeply researched book, perfect for anyone fascinated with the Cold War, American history, and our refusal to learn from our pasts.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is June 8, 2021.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by the story of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a young couple who were executed as Communist spies in 1953.

This book concentrates on the life of Ethel Rosenberg. It delves into her upbringing, her family life, her relationship with Julius and her role as a mother. There isn’t much about her alleged role as a spy because there is no evidence that she ever was one. She did participate in Communist activities, especially during WWII, when Russia was our ally. It wasn’t until the post war era, when McCarthyism was taking hold of the country, that Communism became seen as treasonous. (By definition, treason can only occur when we are at war.)

There is evidence that Julius was involved in getting information about the nuclear bomb to Russia, along with Ethel’s brother David Greenglas (more about him later) while we were still allies with Russia. There was absolutely no evidence that Ethel was ever involved with this.

Julius and Ethel were arrested in 1950. There were 2 charges against Ethel:

1. On or about the first day of November 1944, the exact date being…unknown at the Southern District of New York, the defendant Ethel Rosenberg had a discussion with Julius Rosenberg and others.

2. On or about the 10th day of October 1945…at the Southern District of New York, the defendant Ethel Rosenberg had a conversation with Julius Rosenberg, David Greenglass and others.

So in effect, Ethel was arrested, tried, convicted and executed for having conversations with her husband and her brother on two separate occasions, the contents of which are unknown. Scary.

One of the main reasons that Ethel was charged was that the prosecutors, along with J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI director, were hoping that Julius would name names to protect his wife.
“Proceeding against the wife,”Hoover wrote,”might serve as a lever in this matter.”
Instead, both Rosenbergs proclaimed their innocence right up until their execution. At times, due to their inherent misogyny, the powers that be felt that Ethel would break and talk because she was “just a woman.” At other times, TPTB decided that she was the one who controlled Julius because she was 3 years older than him. Such a dichotomy.

“Behind the scenes, the authorities knew that the actual evidence of Ethel’s espionage was nonexistent, while, without a confession by Julius, the evidence against him too might not be enough to convince a jury he was guilty and send him to the electric chair. But the charges against them both were the same… Indicting Ethel on the same charge of conspiracy to commit espionage as Julius served another purpose for the government, which feared that the two key prosecution witnesses, Ethel‘s, brother, David, and his wife, Ruth, would buckle under cross examination. The prosecution hoped that Ethel‘s plight would wring a confession out of Julius, who knew she was innocent as charged, and might therefore see admitting his guilt as a means to save her life.”

Which brings us to David and Ruth Greenglass, Ethel’s brother and sister-in-law. Davis was charged with espionage, and in an effort to protect his wife, turned on his sister and brother-in-law. David and Ruth lied to authorities and perjured themselves during the trial in order to save themselves. David was later convicted and served 10 years, and Ruth was never charged. Meanwhile, the Rosenbergs were executed based on their lies.

“How could it be possible under any circumstances that a death sentence be meted out to him and his wife in the face of the sentence of thirty years given to Harry Gold and fifteen years to David Greenglass, who were admittedly arch-conspirators in an espionage plot?”

The Rosenbergs left two young sons behind: Michael and Robert. They were eventually adopted by Anne and Abel Meeropol and grew up to be defenders of their parents. (Abel Meeropol wrote the song “Strange Fruit “, a haunting song made famous by Billie Holiday.) Michael and Robert wrote a book about their parents: “We are Your Sons”, which is quite good and still have. I’ve also read “The Brother” by Sam Roberts, which is about David Greenglass, also an excellent read. Makes you want to be an only child. In 2001, David Greenglass went on 60 Minutes and admitted to lying on the witness stand during the trial.

“ Inthe end, Ethel‘s story is, for me, not about the narrow definition of what is meant by innocence or guilt. It is about the multiple meanings of betrayal. Few would deny today that David and Ruth betrayed Ethel when they lied about the typewriter. Many would also argue that Julius and David betrayed their country when they spied for the Soviet Union. Tessie betrayed Ethel by failing to love or cherish her only daughter. Saypol, Cohn and Judge Kaufman betrayed the high ideals of American justice. Truman and Eisenhower betrayed their better selves by refusing to grant Ethel clemency.
Only Ethel betrayed no one, thus sealing her own fate.”

Thank you, Goodreads giveaways, for an ARC of this book. #EthelRosenberg

An absolute recommend.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. World War II and Cold War books, both nonfiction and fiction, are generally right up my alley.

This book, however, left me frustrated.

Ethel Rosenberg and her husband, Julius, were spies against the United States. They were convicted of their crimes and punished by death. These are the facts that have been proven in a court of law and well documented.

This book, on the other hand, made all sorts of excuses for why Ethel should not have been considered complicit in “her husband’s” espionage. The largest excuse was that Ethel was a mother. What that had to do with her being a spy or not being a spy was a mystery to me, especially since getting married and having children (being part of a family unit) was perfect cover for the spying. In addition, most spies would have been trained to maintain their innocence if caught and to not name names and compromise the rest of the spy ring. So it makes perfect sense to me that Ethel would have said she were innocent even if she was guilty. Even criminals with zero training often maintain their innocence until death even if they’re guilty of the crime they were convicted and punished for.

One of the Soviets said they were “buying the silence of [Ethel].” That told me that she was indeed complicit, at the very least, with the espionage. According to the proofs given in this book, Ethel Rosenberg was a master manipulator and “extremely intelligent.” That led me to believe she was much more involved than mere complicity. Ethel became a member of the Communist political party of her own free will; that party was a mainstay of the Soviet Union, which made it clear which country’s side Ethel was on throughout the Cold War.

The United States was in a war of intelligence with the Soviet Union (modern-day Russia), so spying for the Soviet Union (giving away weapons secrets, to mention an example that was used in the book) was rightfully considered treason and traitorous. Ethel’s involvement in this war was proven in court, as evidenced even in this book, so I’m not sure why there is an attempt with this book to create her to be some sort of innocent martyr. She committed the crime; she had to take the punishment. That’s the way the law is supposed to work in this country (U.S.).

The evidence given within the book proved to me that Ethel was in fact a Communist of her own free choice, was in fact guilty of espionage against the United States, and was in fact a traitor to her country. Her punishment was fitting for the crime and in accordance to United States law. With the proof spread all throughout the pages, it was unclear to me why this book was labeled “an American tragedy,” unless the tragedy was that Ethel and her husband had sold out their country to its largest enemy in their era.

Some assumptions in this book (such as when a child’s origin was thought to possibly be an accident) did not have any proof assigned to them whatsoever; therefore, they felt like purposeful dramatizations in order to “prove” the author’s point, as well as to extract extraneous empathy for a character who committed treason against her country, rather than a glimpse of reality for these people back in the era in which they lived. The overuse of the word “mother” was also clearly intended to instill empathy for this Soviet spy.

The final nail in the coffin for me was in the epilogue, when the author tried to blame President Donald Trump for the death of Ethel Rosenberg and her husband, Julius, who were convicted spies and already dead and buried by the time President Trump became President of the United States. In fact, President Trump was born on June 14, 1946, which means he was an infant through perhaps four years of age during the Rosenbergs’ espionage and arrest. A child who wasn’t yet old enough to be registered into elementary school could not be blamed for the actions of adults—and he likely never personally knew the Rosenbergs. During President Trump’s presidency many decades later, he proved himself to be a Patriot devoted to the country he served; therefore, he would not have granted posthumous pardons to traitors of his beloved United States of America.

Content: nudity, suicide mentioned, sexual perversion mentioned, expletives, profanity

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary digital and audio copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This review is my voluntary and unbiased opinion.

From the beginning it seems the author wants to sway readers opinion of Ethel’s innocence. Personally, I think her opinion would have best been presented at the end to let the reader develop her own opinion.

It’s Depression Era in New York where families are living in difficult times. This was true for many Jewish immigrants who experienced poverty. Communism was a common philosophy at the time being challenged by the government. The Greenglass family works hard to make ends meet being immigrants from Russia. Ethel sought the approval of her cold, critical mother, Tessie. Being a good student she graduated at 15 years old but need to find work to help support the family. She had loved the theatre and music and often felt drawn to teaching herself sight reading which eventually led to her performing at Carnegie Hall. Because college or other formal training weren’t possible, she took up transcription classes to find work and help make money to support the family. At that time, she became politically involved in causes to support her communist philosophy.

During this time in history, it was not uncommon to encounter communists in America. Much of the philosophy Ethel seemed focused on pertained to equal rights for workers in developing a union for the small shipping company for which she worked. It was at one of Ethel’s performance that she met Julius Rosenberg who was 21 years old. He was the son of Harry and Sophie Rosenberg who immigrated from Poland. Julius was able to study at CCNY where he learned electrical engineering but was very politically involved.

This story provides the historical data and research regarding the fall out regarding communism and espionage. While Ethel was involved with communist causes in her youth, she abandoned much involvement after she had children. She devoted much of her time and energy on becoming a successful parent. She read and researched extensively on parenting and child psychology. How much or what she knew about her husband’s activities is unknown and more importantly unproven.

It seemed more likely that she was included and executed on circumstantial (that’s a stretch) information. It seems her brother David and his wife Ruth were very involved and when questioned implicated Julius and Ethel to save themselves. Ethel was a strong willed woman who refused to show fear or be disloyal to her husband. In the end, with all appeals exhausted she was put to death. The government was very selective and decisive regarding the execution and who should be killed first. They realized they didn’t have evidence that Ethel was involved just “suspicions.” They wanted to make an example of what could happen if people were found guilty of espionage. They hoped that she would “turn” on her husband but that never happened and the government felt obligated to follow through with the conviction.

After reading the facts of the case, it is clear there was no physical evidence to support the claim that Ethel committed espionage while also taking her children. Ultimately, I think coming to that conclusion in the end would be a better read than feeling that the author was trying to persuade the readers opinion. I enjoy reading author’s opinions and research on cases but usually at the end of a story not the beginning.
Overall, a worthy historical read.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I ever heard of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg was in the movie "You've Got Mail" when two characters have a dialogue about an article the one characters wrote about them. I had never even heard those names before. I remember looking them up and really all I could find was that they were spies and that they were both executed for that. Fast forward to a few months ago and this book came up on NetGalley and I knew I needed to read this and I am so glad I did. This was a huge history lesson that everyone should be reading.

What a crazy story [thoroughly researched by the author and written in a even tone, even in the face of Ethel being executed] and heartbreaking story. . I cannot believe what Julius and Ethel went through at the hands of the US government [talk about a farce of a trial; and I cannot even imagine being thrown under the bus by a sibling like Ethel was by her brother] and then to wait out the months leading to their death alone, in prison, knowing they were going to die and still proclaiming their innocence right up to the end, with Ethel thinking only of her husband and her two little boys, who she missed so much every day she was apart from them. That these two boys lost both parents with little regard to their own well-being [Ethel was never anything but a good mother, who lived for her children and her husband {this was shown over and over again, as she gave up a good job to support her husband in a move that his job required, and the help she continually sought out for Michael, who had issues as a child} ] is nothing short of horrific. It isn't until much later that the well-being of the boys is actually taken care of and it is because of their adoptive parents love and caring [AND the love that Ethel and Julius showered on them when they were small], that enables these two boys to grow up to be really amazing adults. It is, in my opinion, the only blessing and good thing that came out of this horrible disaster. My heart hurts for them and all they lost - it is heartbreaking.

Do I believe that Ethel was a spy? No I do not. Do I believe she is guilty of supporting her husband in any way she could? Yes I do. And she died for that.

"Few would deny that David and Ruth betrayed Ethel when they lied about the typewriter. Many would also argue that Julius and David betrayed their county when they spied for the Soviet Union. Tessie betrayed Ethel by failing to love or cherish her only daughter. Saypol, Cohn, and Judge Kaufman betrayed the high ideals of American justice. Truman and Eisenhower betrayed their better selves by refusing to grant Ethel clemency. Only Ethel betrayed no one, thus sealing her own fate." <--THIS sums up this whole book better than I could ever do. Well done.

**I was also granted an audiobook of this, read by the amazing Orlagh Cassidy. She does an amazing job and really added to the story as a whole. SO glad I was able to listen to this book.**

Thank you to NetGalley, Anne Sebba, and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[June-Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Sebba sets out to show how the conviction and sentence of Ethel Rosenberg was flawed: that she was innocent of the charges brought.
I don't, for one-minute, believe she should have faced the electric-chair, and yes, the evidence to show that she was guilty of 'conspiracy to commit espionage' has been questioned and debunked by many.
Post the collapse of the Soviet Union, decoded Verona traffic suggests she did play a part in passing secret information to the Soviets. Within these pages I became convinced Ethel Rosenberg was a devoted wife and mother and I'd suggest, she was fully aware of what her husband was about: does that make her guilty? She married him: "till death us do part - I made my bed I'll lie in it."
In this we see how with an entire nation looking for a 'red under their bed' the evidence, the witnesses, the court proceedings and the final judgement could, in hindsight, be thrown out and Ethel Rosenberg cautioned but set free.
The whipped-up fear within nations on the other side of the Iron Curtain saw thousands of innocents put to death on hearsay and tainted evidence offered. Yet a free and democratic nation wanting to rid the world of such tyranny falls foul of an identical hysteria.
It's saddening to think of.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nonfiction book and by the way it's presented we can tell Ethel Rosenberg's life has been meticulously researched by author Anne Sebba.
In June 1953, married couple Julius and Ethel Rosenberg who had two young sons were led separately from their cells on death row and electrocuted just moments apart. As they were being led to the chair they did not cry out or fight it they went calmly.
We see Ethel's life as it unfolds for her as a child and teen and feel the coldness of her mother's betrayal and rejection. She didn't want her. One thing was very clear, how much Ethel adored her children. It was interesting reading the details of her trial for espionage-related crimes, of which I didn't see any hard evidence presented. Because of deep love for her husband Julius, she refused to say anything negative against him in court essentially courageously facing the death penalty which left her children orphans after her execution.
Eyeopening tragedy!

Pub Date 08 Jun 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know much about Ethel Rosenberg before and I do not feel like I have any great insight into her now. The book felt tedious. She had a difficult life with a mother who did not love her and then a younger brother she doted on lied during her trial. Just before his death he wasn't remorseful about what he did and that he would do it again to protect his wife. The biggest tragedy was leaving behind two young boys.

I am in awe of the amount of research that goes into a book like this. I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a copy of this book.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, a notorious couple that were electrocuted in June 1953. The author, Anne Sebba, focuses on Ethel and posits that she was murdered by the state and likely innocent, and did not deserve death. Ethel was betrayed, by her family and the state. Once could say she was a victim from the beginning, being raised by a mother, Tessie, that never showed her love, and instead poured her emotions to Ethel’s younger brother David. The same David who names her and Julius in order to reduce his own sentence of the same crime of giving secrets away to Russia.

Ethel was a smart woman, trapped in the 1940’s image of what a woman was allowed to do, not much beyond being a wife and mother. Ethel was determined to be a better mother to her two children and believed in new parenting methods.

Why she didn’t speak, other than pleading the fifth, is a question probed in this book. Some answers are given, but it’s unknown fully of her motives, leaving the question open if she was guilty or not, or at least knowing about her husband’s activities.

A fascinating book into the WWII era and the beginning of the Cold War. Of a family thrown into the headlines and forever embedded as part of the American culture from the anti-communist sentiment and Cold War. I particularly enjoyed the ending, the “Many ways of imagining and seeing Ethel,” with books, plays and a recreation of the trial, which remain part of Ethel’s legacy around the world.

I listed to most of the book as an audio narrated by Orlagh Cassidy. The narration is done well and keeps you in the book. Couldn’t ask for a better narration for this story.

Book rating: 4.5

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance audio copy.

Thanks also to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: confinement, false accusations, antisemitism, war, gaslighting, child neglect, emotional abuse

A grave miscarriage of justice for every participant - but for Ethel Rosenberg doubly so. The actions of no one participant was any worse to receive the death penalty as opposed to 15 to 30 years in prison, while the most likely only innocent party was murdered by the United States government.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book illuminates the social, cultural and political factors that contributed to the conviction and execution of Ethel Rosenberg. Although at times the thoroughness of this book in presenting details overwhelmed or bored me, the story always picked up pace and renewed my interest. This book made me much more empathetic towards Ethel Rosenberg and provided context for both her actions and inactions. Additionally the book detailed the heart breaking effects of the Rosenbergs' execution on their young sons. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

[Gareth Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tour-de-force by Anne Sebba, whose previous books include a 2011 biography of Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, which I think is one of the great royal biographies of the past twenty years. Ethel Rosenberg is no less controversial than Wallis Simpson, but she was certainly far more tragic. Sebba expertly begins with a childhood shaped by grinding poverty and an appallingly sexist mother, who resented Ethel for her talents while heaping praise and love upon the fatally mediocre David. Similarly well told are the details of Ethel's escape into books, amateur drama societies, and singing, at which she excelled.

It is fascinating to read about the extent to which Ethel's life was one shaped by ideologies. Not just through Communism, the cause she embraced along with her husband Julius, but even in her private life. Ethel, similar to many in the mid-twentieth century, looked to theories of the world to guide them through life by providing rigid answers to complex questions. Ethel's fascination with psychology saw her apply new theories on parenting, continuing to persevere with them even when they proved hopeless with her eldest son Michael, whose behaviour is well documented by the eyewitness testimonies unearthed and cited by Sebba.

The Rosenbergs are famous, or infamous, for being perhaps the most famous victims of the McCarthy era, when they were arrested as Soviet spies in the early 1950s. It is often taken as read that the entire anti-Communist phenomenon in 1940s and 1950s America was nothing more than lethally foolish paranoia, divorced from reality or justification, something memorably captured by Arthur Miller when he satirised it as analogous to the Salem Witch Trials in his play "The Crucible". Certainly, it became that, with people being fired from jobs and banished from society on the basis of one ill-advised comment in favour of Communism or, as had happened to Ethel earlier in life, because of rumoured membership in socialist organisations, but, Sebba shows masterfully that, when it started, there were legitimate grounds for concern. There had been nuclear secrets leaked to the Soviet government, there was an effective Soviet spy ring being operated inside the United States (thrillingly described in this book), the USSR had developed atomic weapons years earlier than anybody had expected, they had just de facto annexed the entirety of eastern European to transform it into Soviet puppet dictatorships (the sole exceptions being Greece and Finland), and, armed with weapons capable of wiping out entire cities, they then backed the north Korean invasion of the south. Woven together, and without the benefit of hindsight, it becomes far easier to contextualise the panic that many American conservatives, and liberals, felt about the "enemy within".

From an understandable starting point, however, this fear rapidly evolved into something that was manipulated by public figures keen to use a patriotic cloak as a disguise for their ambition. It was rapidly infested by hysteria and divorced from reality, a trait which the Rosenberg trials floodlit in remorseless detail. Without giving too much away, Sebba shows how the evidence against the Rosenbergs was very different when compared to Julius and Ethel. As a reader, I found myself coming away progressively more frustrated by Julius. The couple's trial showcased much that was still potent in American public life - anti-Semitism, in particular - and the emphasis put on how women appeared. I was surprised to read of the despair, even among her fellow socialists, at Ethel's failure to dress in a sufficiently respectable or fashionable manner for her trial, since they feared it would help turn the press and jury against her.

"Ethel Rosenberg" is neither hagiographic redemption nor damning indictment. It is a wonderfully researched life, framed by espionage, a passionate love story, horrible familial betrayal, political machinations, ideological extremism, and a desperate tragedy in 1950s America.

[Rick Rapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebba's book is disturbing and enlightening. When I was a child, the prevailing narrative was that the Rosenbergs were spies and deserved their executions. Now, as history has played out, the truth of the matter is far more complex and bitter. Ethel, especially, was betrayed by a jealous brother and sister-in-law who concocted stories at the urging of the vile Roy Cohn (furthering his own twisted machinations to rise in power) to place blame and fan the flames of the Cold War paranoia, sealing the fate of both Rosenbergs. Hysteria over the communist "threat," anti-Semitism, and anger/distrust toward any woman who did not seem "feminine" or "maternal" enough all contributed to this travesty of justice. Julius Rosenberg's biggest crime was his naïveté in that he believed he was aiding an ally in defeating Fascism. Ethel's biggest "crime" was her devotion to her husband and her reluctance to "name names" as so many cowards did during the McCarthy era. There are so many disgusting and unsettling things about this whole charade of a trial and its outcome. For me, the inequity of punishment on those convicted of similar crimes is near the top of these. But more than anything, the fact that in recent years politicians in the highest of positions have pandered to the Russians and shared classified information with impunity is the most egregious miscarriage of justice. The Rosenbergs were murdered for what has become "business as usual" in our twisted political system.

[Nina Ive · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of references to the Rosenbergs in modern film and literature. I was interested to know more, and from this biography, I understand what the controversy was about.

Both were clearly supporters of Communism during a time of political sensitivity. Julius was definitely involved in espionage, although it appears to have been at a low level. However, Ethel really had no involvement in that. She was a housewife and mother, loved her husband, and supported anything he did. There was no evidence to suggest she was a spy or was even privy to the activities that Julius and Ethels own brother were involved in.

The fact that they were both executed was a sign of the times. They were political pawns to warn others of what could happen if America's secrets were given to the enemy.

It was a well written novel, just the right length, and gave a personal side to Ethel, which was relatable.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a time in the Cold War era when America was seized with extreme anti-Communist sentiment, Ethel Rosenberg was tried and sentenced to death for treason. Ethel was a wife and the mother of 2 young boys. She and her husband were both given the same sentence, leaving their boys without parents. This well-researched book walks through who Ethel was and how she ended up on death row.

This was a fascinating listen for me. I knew little to nothing about this case ahead of time. It is always a good thing to learn more about history, in my opinion. This trial also pointed out some issues in how the court system wasn't fair for women like Ethel. I recommend this one to history buffs and non-fiction fans.

Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook!

[Teresa Rokas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on only Ethel Rosenberg and her life. From her upbringing with a cold and distant mother, to her pursuit of an opera career, her political pursuits in the communist party, meeting her husband Julius and her life then as a mother and wife. The author had access to leterrs Ethel wrote from prison to her husband, lawyer and therapist. Ethel was a very complex woman who despite being a loving and committed mother choose to not implicate her husband in a spy ring that she had no involvement in thus orphaning her children.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ah yes, the Rosenbergs, spies weren't they?"

I knew very little of the Rosenbergs before cracking this story. For having the distinction of being one of the only people put to death for espionage during a nonwartime, you'd think there'd be more information about them. Sadly, even now there is little.

I liked the way the author presented the case mainly for Ethel. It's good to separate the two because it seems everyone else just puts them as one entity - The Rosenbergs. I'm not sure I 100% agree with the author and the explanations, it was compelling enough I'd like to know more and have a few more POV before I'm completely sold on whether Ethel was innocent or guilty.

But the argument in here is compelling. It paints a very vivid picture of how the prosecution, Ethel's own family and even her refusal to do anything but plead the 5th - all damned her in different ways to the outcome that ultimately played out. The story is in easier to digest chapters that tackle each part of the story in chronological order. It's compelling and fascinating and I'm really glad I read this one.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[MissSusie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book but honestly it didn't answer any questions that hang over the case like I was hoping it would.

It was interesting in parts though to hear more about her life and the whole story around her arrest and execution and I guess it kind of leaves you to make your own conclusion as to her guilt or innocence or is it somewhere in between. I still came out of their book believing she should never have been executed and most likely neither should have her husband. I guess we will never know for sure if these 2 were truly spies or just scapegoats so I will say I think they were innocent.

Orlagh Cassidy's narration was very well done she laid out the book well.

A good book looking at Ethel's life.

3 stars

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me longer than usual to finish this book. I found it very hard going, depressing even. I had to stop many times and take a break, the story was so bleak, and heartbreaking. Many know, and I remember that Ethel Rosenberg and her husband Julius were both executed in the in the midst of the great "Red Scare" at the height of the McCarthy era. I was five years old at the time, and was very aware of the executions, as the Rosenbergs' story was in all the papers and on the radio and TV. One might almost compare it to the OJ Simpson media circus some 40 years later.

Although the Rosenbergs were members of the Communist Party, that in itself was not considered a crime. There was information given to Russians, but Ethel's involvement was minimal-her typewriter was used to type some of the documents, and Ethel was likely the typist. For that, the mother of two small boys died in the electric chair. The boys were left orphaned by the executions, and were unwanted and mistreated by Ethel's family. While husband Julius may have had more involvement with the Soviets, the most damning activities were committed by Ethel's brother and his wife, who actually did obtain and deliver information about the development of the atomic bomb to the Russians, but they incriminated the Rosenbergs to save themselves. Although many prominent Americans and other world leaders pleaded for clemency, especially for Ethel-the Rosenbergs' fate would not change. This affected me deeply, especially since the brother who sealed Ethel's doom, would live on, after being granted clemency for his testimony against his sister and brother-in-law. In later years he would show little remorse, with the attitude that to save his wife and sell out his sister was the right thing to do.

*An interesting note as I write this review: News broke this morning of an American husband and wife arrested on charges of espionage after selling information about our nuclear submarines to Soviet agents. Having just finished the Rosenberg story, I couldn't help but wonder if this present-day couple would also face execution if found guilty. The answer came on the news: They could face life in prison if found guilty. Ethel Rosenberg's fate seems even more unfair to me now. Her story was heartbreaking and hard to read about, but it's one that every American needs to be aware of.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an ARC that I was lucky enough to win in the Goodreads giveaways. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would! I love history, and thought I "knew" the story of the Rosenberg trial and the executions, but, it turns out, I knew nothing of the REAL people behind the story, behind the public mask of stoic indifference Mrs. Rosenberg showed the world, and how the government manipulated the trial and public opinion to bring about the conviction and execution of an innocent woman. The "cold war" and the fear of the "Red Menace" cannot justify how Ethel Rosenberg was railroaded through the trial, and the years in prison solitary confinement, while appealing the death sentence unjustly levied against her. It cannot make up for the theft of her life from her young sons, and the pain that they went through during those years. There were many times, throughout the book, that I wanted to weep for her, to rage against the blindness and mistreatment she was subjected to, in the government's single minded pursuit of "justice"; and I did cry while reading the final chapters, covering the execution and the aftermath. Her only "crime", if one can call it that, would be in being a product of her upbringing and the times that kept a woman subservient to the needs of her husband and children. The fact that her children went on to live good lives of service is testimony to the love and care she gave them from birth. It chills me to realize that all this happened only shortly before I was born, and that, in some ways, our justice system is still manipulating and deciding cases based, in large part, on preconceived notions of human behavior and stereotypes or biases which people carry. Our justice system is not perfect, and in most cases, could be improved upon - in THIS case, the mistreatment and rush to judgement of a young mother - and the ease which her family threw her to the wolves of McCarthyism and paranoia is heartbreaking. I don't, as a general rule, wish ill on anyone, and most of the people involved in this pantomime of justice are dead and beyond retribution, now - and it's a pity. Their shame should be exposed - this book was an excellent first step, and I thank Anne Sebba for opening my eyes to this recent history. May we learn from it, and not rush to judgment again.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guilty upon association

Ethel was a child of Jewish immigrants. She felt unloved by her mother who only had time for her young brothers. Growing up she adored her younger brother David and often read stories to him. Ethel wanted to be an actor and a singer. She met Julius Rosenberg at a Union benefit event. Ethel was singing at the event, but she had a attack of nerves. Julius had noticed Ethel before and when she told him how nervous she was he took her to a room and had her rehearse just for him. They were inseparable from then on. They married and eventually had two sons.

Ethel and Julius were communists and often had meetings in their home but it was never proven that Ethel attended or participated in these meetings.

Julius was proven to be a Soviet Spy and had recruited others to be spies. There was no real evidence that Ethel was a part of the spy ring, nor that she knew about it. They were both arrested and tried for espionage. Edith's brother David gave testimony that she was guilty along with Julius. This testimony was enough to garner the death sentence for Edith. Her two young songs were left orphans.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were the only two Americans put to death during peacetime for conspiracy to commit espionage. Ethel is the only woman ever executed for a crime other than murder in the U.S

This was a very interesting time in history, I had heard the term McCarthyism, but I did not understand what it meant. After reading this book I think I now understand a bit about McCarthyism. I really enjoyed reading it and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Anne Sebba, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, for a complimentary copy of this book. "Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I thought this nonfiction book about the story of the Rosenbergs was so interesting. I didn't know too much about their case but this book brought so much to light. After reading the book, I can't say with conviction if I believe that Ethel was truly guilty of her charges for being a spy and betraying her country, but I will say that I do not at all believe they truly proved it nor that she deserved the death penalty.

I remember learning about the "red scare" and the "witch hunts" during that time when I was in college and I thought it was so awful that people were even found guilty by association. The author seemed to find a good balance between showing Ethel as the good mother she wanted to be to her two boys and the life fighting her own fight during the McCarthy Era. Without giving away much of what she went through, the trial, or what she did so as not to incriminate her husband, I will say she was one hell of a strong woman. Ethel's story is a heartbreaker, especially because of what she did in order to stand by her own convictions.

I had the pleasure of having both an ebook and audiobook, so at times I listened and read, other times I listened or read only. I found the narrator, Orlagh Cassidy, very easy to listen to and follow. Her voice and pronunciations were very clear. I didn't feel that she over-dramatized any parts of the book but her reading of the book made it appear natural and like I was hearing a first person opinion rather than a reading from pages of a book. I thought this narrator was excellent and didn't detract from the book by her voice nor how she narrated it.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the e-ARC and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook.