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The Correspondents: Six Women Writers on the Front Lines of World War II
The riveting, untold history of a group of heroic women reporters who revolutionized the narrative of World War II—from Martha Gellhorn, who out-scooped her husband, Ernest Hemingway, to Lee Miller, a Vogue cover model turned war correspondent."Thrilling from the first page to the last." —Mary Gabriel, author of Ninth Street Women "Just as women are so often written out of war, so it seems are the female correspondents. Mackrell corrects this omission admirably with stories of six of the best…Mackrell has done us all a great service by assembling their own fascinating stories." —New York Times Book ReviewOn the front lines of the Second World War, a contingent of female journalists were bravely waging their own battle. Barred from combat zones and faced with entrenched prejudice and bureaucratic restrictions, these women were forced to fight for the right to work on equal terms with men.The Correspondents follows six remarkable women as their lives and careers Martha Gellhorn, who got the scoop on Ernest Hemingway on D-Day by traveling to Normandy as a stowaway on a Red Cross ship; Lee Miller, who went from being a Vogue cover model to the magazine’s official war correspondent; Sigrid Schultz, who hid her Jewish identity and risked her life by reporting on the Nazi regime; Virginia Cowles, a “society girl columnist” turned combat reporter; Clare Hollingworth, the first English journalist to break the news of World War II; and Helen Kirkpatrick, the first woman to report from an Allied war zone with equal privileges to men.From chasing down sources and narrowly dodging gunfire to conducting tumultuous love affairs and socializing with luminaries like Eleanor Roosevelt, Picasso, and Man Ray, these six women are captured in all their complexity. With her gripping, intimate, and nuanced portrait, Judith Mackrell celebrates these courageous reporters who risked their lives for the scoop.
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2021
178 people are currently reading
2631 people want to read
About the author
Judith Mackrell
16 books39 followersJudith Mackrell is a writer and dance critic for the Guardian. She lives in London with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
September 17, 2022
This book gives us an account of six women who change the path of journalism in a mans world.
Each of these woman entering this field come with different personalities and backgrounds. The common bond is perseverance to become the best as known journalists.
The hardship of breaking into the field when competing with men was the fact that, as women it was "assumed" they would find it too difficult in handling the hardships and needs of day to day living inside a war zone.
This was an easy and an extremely interesting read loaded with information I would never know from history unless I were looking for it.
Each of these woman entering this field come with different personalities and backgrounds. The common bond is perseverance to become the best as known journalists.
The hardship of breaking into the field when competing with men was the fact that, as women it was "assumed" they would find it too difficult in handling the hardships and needs of day to day living inside a war zone.
This was an easy and an extremely interesting read loaded with information I would never know from history unless I were looking for it.
June 23, 2022
“The Correspondents” gives us the lives of six female journalists who struggled and succeeded in their profession during World War II. To a large extent, they set the precedent and made it possible for women to enter the media after them.
The author examines the lives of – Martha Graham, Lee Miller, Sigrid Schultz, Virginia Cowles, Clare Hollingworth, and Helen Kirkpatrick. Clare Hollingworth was born in the U.K., the others were from the United States. She also brings up other journalists of interest, like Iris Carpenter.
The author raises up the discrimination and sexism these women endured to achieve parity with their male colleagues. The military had a long list of excuses to prevent them from competing with their fellow male journalists on the military front-line, such as no bathroom facilities, the soldiers wouldn’t want them (in fact many appreciated a female in their presence), it was too muddy and dirty… They overcame these obstacles - by argument, bending the rules, and subterfuge. They even had help from some of the men. One, a Colonel Andrews, (page 293) said “wherever their reporter’s conscience drives them – same as the men do – and if they get a beat on the story and scoop the pants off the men, it’s all right by me.” Sadly, because there was a war, Colonel Roberts was killed sometime later.
There are some powerful and evocative examples of their reporting in this book. I wish there would have been more quotes of their reporting.
I felt at times that the authors’ history was dubious. For example, when the Allied forces entered Munich in 1945, Lee Miller went to Hitler’s residence – and the author states (page 318) – “to be walking in the rooms where Hitler had entertained men like Mussolini and Franco.” Hitler only met Franco once, at Hendaye, in France in October,1940.
I did have problems in keeping track of who was who of these six journalists. The continuity of their lives was difficult to follow because each chapter often intermingled several of them. Yes, I know the title indicated “six journalists” but I felt the author could have used a better structure to keep readers informed of their developing and evolving careers – as in using one chapter per journalist.
Nevertheless, she is excellent at pointing out their accomplishments and limitations. Some, like Lee Miller, never got over their war experience and suffered PTSD for several years. The war years gave each of them an extreme high and exhilaration – and some could not adjust to a return to “normality”.
The author examines the lives of – Martha Graham, Lee Miller, Sigrid Schultz, Virginia Cowles, Clare Hollingworth, and Helen Kirkpatrick. Clare Hollingworth was born in the U.K., the others were from the United States. She also brings up other journalists of interest, like Iris Carpenter.
The author raises up the discrimination and sexism these women endured to achieve parity with their male colleagues. The military had a long list of excuses to prevent them from competing with their fellow male journalists on the military front-line, such as no bathroom facilities, the soldiers wouldn’t want them (in fact many appreciated a female in their presence), it was too muddy and dirty… They overcame these obstacles - by argument, bending the rules, and subterfuge. They even had help from some of the men. One, a Colonel Andrews, (page 293) said “wherever their reporter’s conscience drives them – same as the men do – and if they get a beat on the story and scoop the pants off the men, it’s all right by me.” Sadly, because there was a war, Colonel Roberts was killed sometime later.
There are some powerful and evocative examples of their reporting in this book. I wish there would have been more quotes of their reporting.
I felt at times that the authors’ history was dubious. For example, when the Allied forces entered Munich in 1945, Lee Miller went to Hitler’s residence – and the author states (page 318) – “to be walking in the rooms where Hitler had entertained men like Mussolini and Franco.” Hitler only met Franco once, at Hendaye, in France in October,1940.
I did have problems in keeping track of who was who of these six journalists. The continuity of their lives was difficult to follow because each chapter often intermingled several of them. Yes, I know the title indicated “six journalists” but I felt the author could have used a better structure to keep readers informed of their developing and evolving careers – as in using one chapter per journalist.
Nevertheless, she is excellent at pointing out their accomplishments and limitations. Some, like Lee Miller, never got over their war experience and suffered PTSD for several years. The war years gave each of them an extreme high and exhilaration – and some could not adjust to a return to “normality”.
November 11, 2023
Having not read anything of such women beforehand, I found this most interesting. It became a bit of a trudge as it went on, but I did learn lots.
I'd say, you'd need a pretty thick skin to take on such a duty back in the day. There's a bit of a hiccup around the dates for Pearl Harbour and America entering the war, but as long as you know that, it matters little.
It would be good to read of these women's experience in their own words.
I'd say, you'd need a pretty thick skin to take on such a duty back in the day. There's a bit of a hiccup around the dates for Pearl Harbour and America entering the war, but as long as you know that, it matters little.
It would be good to read of these women's experience in their own words.
October 20, 2021
I received a digital advance review copy from the publisher, via Netgalley.
I’ve read books about women WW2 correspondents before, but this book is an excellent contribution to the subject. Mackrell tells the stories of six women, including not just their work during the war, but how they came to be journalists and have the determination to do a dangerous job that they were actively discouraged from doing, and what their lives were like after going through the excitement, horror, and grind of the war years. The six women are:
Martha Gellhorn, too often recognized first as being a wife of Ernest Hemingway, she outmaneuvered him to get herself in the thick of the Normandy invasion, while he “liberated” the Ritz Bar in Paris.
Lee Miller, who turned her Vogue career into that of a war photographer and correspondent who took some of the most stunning pictures of the war.
Sigrid Schultz, who worked her way up to first female bureau chief, reporting from Berlin, the heart of the war’s darkness. She invented a male correspondent to avoid getting into hot water with the Nazis, which was particularly important in her case, because her mother was Jewish.
Virginia Cowles, a debutante who worked as a women’s issues type of reporter in New York and Boston before leaving for Spain on her own initiative in 1936 to report on the Spanish Civil War. She reported from all over Europe throughout the prewar and war years.
Clare Hollingworth was actually the first to report the outbreak of WW2, because she was at the Polish border at the time of Germany’s invasion. She had a long and storied international journalism career and died in Hong Kong in 2017 at age 105.
Helen Kirkpatrick, chosen by Eisenhower himself to be the first woman with full war credentials.
While many male correspondents trained their focus on military maneuvers and interviewing political and military men, these women didn’t limit themselves that way. They also paid close attention to civilians and how war and politics affected their lives. It struck me early on how that focus meant that these women were immediately strongly critical of Chamberlain’s Munich deal with Hitler. Nearly all correspondents fell into Chamberlain’s characterization of the deal as “peace with honor,” but the women knew that this deal would be a tragedy for the Czechs and would only delay war. And a couple of them didn’t hesitate to let Chamberlain—and readers—know it.
Despite active discouragement, these women put themselves in the same danger as male war reporters—and they often had to fight off unwelcome advances too. Before the Battle of the Bulge, the Supreme HQ of the Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF), decided that unlike male correspondents, women shouldn’t be allowed to report from the front. The men were provided transportation and billets, while the women had to sneak around and make their own arrangements, sometimes by hitching rides with jeeps heading down roads attacked by snipers and air attacks. They were actually put in more danger by SHAEF’s misplaced solicitude than if they just been credentialed the way their male compatriots were.
Some of the stories are already known, but Mackrell’s giving us full context adds interest. For example, knowing more about Martha Gellhorn’s life and her struggles with her marriage to Hemingway makes it even more satisfying to read about her D-Day landing. And have you ever seen the famous photo of Lee Miller taking a bath in Hitler’s tub? It’s fun to read the full story of how that happened.
Reading about the postwar lives of these women was illuminating. Each one suffered from PTSD, especially those who were there when the concentration and death camps were liberated. Each one struggled with personal relationships. But they all knew the importance of the work they’d done and never regretted it, despite the personal costs.
This is a fascinating, sobering and yet inspiring book.
I’ve read books about women WW2 correspondents before, but this book is an excellent contribution to the subject. Mackrell tells the stories of six women, including not just their work during the war, but how they came to be journalists and have the determination to do a dangerous job that they were actively discouraged from doing, and what their lives were like after going through the excitement, horror, and grind of the war years. The six women are:
Martha Gellhorn, too often recognized first as being a wife of Ernest Hemingway, she outmaneuvered him to get herself in the thick of the Normandy invasion, while he “liberated” the Ritz Bar in Paris.
Lee Miller, who turned her Vogue career into that of a war photographer and correspondent who took some of the most stunning pictures of the war.
Sigrid Schultz, who worked her way up to first female bureau chief, reporting from Berlin, the heart of the war’s darkness. She invented a male correspondent to avoid getting into hot water with the Nazis, which was particularly important in her case, because her mother was Jewish.
Virginia Cowles, a debutante who worked as a women’s issues type of reporter in New York and Boston before leaving for Spain on her own initiative in 1936 to report on the Spanish Civil War. She reported from all over Europe throughout the prewar and war years.
Clare Hollingworth was actually the first to report the outbreak of WW2, because she was at the Polish border at the time of Germany’s invasion. She had a long and storied international journalism career and died in Hong Kong in 2017 at age 105.
Helen Kirkpatrick, chosen by Eisenhower himself to be the first woman with full war credentials.
While many male correspondents trained their focus on military maneuvers and interviewing political and military men, these women didn’t limit themselves that way. They also paid close attention to civilians and how war and politics affected their lives. It struck me early on how that focus meant that these women were immediately strongly critical of Chamberlain’s Munich deal with Hitler. Nearly all correspondents fell into Chamberlain’s characterization of the deal as “peace with honor,” but the women knew that this deal would be a tragedy for the Czechs and would only delay war. And a couple of them didn’t hesitate to let Chamberlain—and readers—know it.
Despite active discouragement, these women put themselves in the same danger as male war reporters—and they often had to fight off unwelcome advances too. Before the Battle of the Bulge, the Supreme HQ of the Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF), decided that unlike male correspondents, women shouldn’t be allowed to report from the front. The men were provided transportation and billets, while the women had to sneak around and make their own arrangements, sometimes by hitching rides with jeeps heading down roads attacked by snipers and air attacks. They were actually put in more danger by SHAEF’s misplaced solicitude than if they just been credentialed the way their male compatriots were.
Some of the stories are already known, but Mackrell’s giving us full context adds interest. For example, knowing more about Martha Gellhorn’s life and her struggles with her marriage to Hemingway makes it even more satisfying to read about her D-Day landing. And have you ever seen the famous photo of Lee Miller taking a bath in Hitler’s tub? It’s fun to read the full story of how that happened.
Reading about the postwar lives of these women was illuminating. Each one suffered from PTSD, especially those who were there when the concentration and death camps were liberated. Each one struggled with personal relationships. But they all knew the importance of the work they’d done and never regretted it, despite the personal costs.
This is a fascinating, sobering and yet inspiring book.
February 21, 2022
An excellent portrait of six women whose reporting of WW2 changed the face of journalism and and left a legacy of war reporting.
February 24, 2022
The book’s title THE CORRESPONDENTS: 6 WOMEN on the Front Lines of WW2 gives the impression that we will follow foreign correspondents into battlefield action of one conflict: WW2. One would hope that we could get to know one correspondent at a time with a focus on her professional life with a focus on WW2 reporting. Instead, author Judith Mackrell gives unnecessary, extensive detail on the women’s childhoods and the backdrop of that time period. As a result, we slog thru WW1 with Sigrid. We follow Martha Gellhorn into Spanish Civil War and then Virginia Cowles shows up in Spain. We are introduced to Clare Hollingsworth in preWW2 Britain and then, in the next paragraph, introduced to Helen Kirkpatrick. Shortly, we are yanked back into Martha’s story. These women did not work in a press pool so there was no way Mackrell should have tried to merge their stories.
Mackrell insisted on referring to each of the woman’s possession or lack of physical beauty and opines that Martha Gellhorn wasn’t able to get interviews because no one took such a great beauty seriously. She details the love life of each woman which is irrelevant. She also resorts to filler sentences like “Perhaps she enjoyed” or “no doubt she had read the news” which indicated a gap in research and a weak attempt to insert historical backdrop.
I would have enjoyed meeting each woman in a separate chapter and staying with one historical period. Otherwise, the info becomes an overload.
Mackrell insisted on referring to each of the woman’s possession or lack of physical beauty and opines that Martha Gellhorn wasn’t able to get interviews because no one took such a great beauty seriously. She details the love life of each woman which is irrelevant. She also resorts to filler sentences like “Perhaps she enjoyed” or “no doubt she had read the news” which indicated a gap in research and a weak attempt to insert historical backdrop.
I would have enjoyed meeting each woman in a separate chapter and staying with one historical period. Otherwise, the info becomes an overload.
October 10, 2025
"As Enviadas Especiais" de Judith Mackrell é um livro que recupera a história de mulheres jornalistas durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, destacando como elas desafiaram as convenções sociais e o domínio masculino para cobrir a guerra.
A autora destaca essas jornalistas corajosas e pioneiras que, muitas vezes foram ignoradas pela história, desempenharam um papel crucial na documentação dos vários acontecimentos.
Essas jornalistas eram, em muitos casos, pioneiras, e suas contribuições ajudaram a redefinir a percepção pública sobre o papel da mulher no mundo do trabalho, na política e na guerra.
A escrita de Mackrell mistura histórias pessoais e análises históricas, tornando a obra numa leitura valiosa para quem se interessa por história, jornalismo e o papel das mulheres na sociedade.
A autora destaca essas jornalistas corajosas e pioneiras que, muitas vezes foram ignoradas pela história, desempenharam um papel crucial na documentação dos vários acontecimentos.
Essas jornalistas eram, em muitos casos, pioneiras, e suas contribuições ajudaram a redefinir a percepção pública sobre o papel da mulher no mundo do trabalho, na política e na guerra.
A escrita de Mackrell mistura histórias pessoais e análises históricas, tornando a obra numa leitura valiosa para quem se interessa por história, jornalismo e o papel das mulheres na sociedade.
August 27, 2025
6 estrelas!
que livro incomensuravelmente booom!
que livro incomensuravelmente booom!
November 22, 2021
Very informative book about these six brave women.
Read
January 1, 2022I listened to the audiobook version of this book. It was a little hard to follow. The narrator used different voices, which was both odd and annoying. I wouldn’t recommend the audiobook.
July 24, 2021
****I received an e-ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. This is an honest review.
“In the reports they filed, in the memoirs, diaries and letters they kept, Sigrid, Martha, Virginia, Clare, Helen and Lee were not only writing history, at the moment it was being made; they were also writing a version of history that was theirs, a version that was shaped by the realities of being a woman, and was inflected by a female voice.”
~
I love learning about women in history, and The Correspondents was a fascinating read for sure! While there certainly were female war correspondents prior to the world wars, there weren’t many. But during WWII, the sheer scale of the war increased the demand for reporters, and as many as 250 were allowed in the field. That gain was not without its obstacles; the British war office had strict policies about where they were allowed to go, they were often treated as second fiddle to “real” (male) reporters, and as many of the women in this book did, they often had to carve their own way into the war and employ creative and sometimes risky strategies, even if it meant skirting or even breaking the rules. The Correspondents follow 6 of these women: Lee Miller, Helen Kirkpatrick, Martha Gellhorn, Sigrid Schultz, and Virginia Cowles. If you’re not a big nonfiction person, it reads like a story, even the parts giving background information on war events! Each of the women lived fascinating lives and I enjoyed seeing how each of them approached the war and developed their own writing style—-and often, their ideology and sense of identity as well. Their stories also intertwine, as they were contemporaries of one another, and chapters will often switch between them, efficiently comparing and contrasting their war, reporting, and personal experiences without being super confusing. Their stories are woven together expertly, and Mackrell really brings them to life. The only major flaw to me is that I would have liked to hear more about Sigrid Schultz, a Jewish reporter. We heard about her more at the beginning of the war, as she witnessed the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Regime in Berlin (and totally bashed him in the press while writing under a secret pseudonym!) but as the book went on she didn’t appear very much. Overall I enjoyed it a lot, did a lot of annotating, and definitely want a copy when it comes out in the fall! If you love learning about military/war history, women’s history, or the lives of writers, mark your calendars! THE CORRESPONDENTS releases Nov.2.
“In the reports they filed, in the memoirs, diaries and letters they kept, Sigrid, Martha, Virginia, Clare, Helen and Lee were not only writing history, at the moment it was being made; they were also writing a version of history that was theirs, a version that was shaped by the realities of being a woman, and was inflected by a female voice.”
~
I love learning about women in history, and The Correspondents was a fascinating read for sure! While there certainly were female war correspondents prior to the world wars, there weren’t many. But during WWII, the sheer scale of the war increased the demand for reporters, and as many as 250 were allowed in the field. That gain was not without its obstacles; the British war office had strict policies about where they were allowed to go, they were often treated as second fiddle to “real” (male) reporters, and as many of the women in this book did, they often had to carve their own way into the war and employ creative and sometimes risky strategies, even if it meant skirting or even breaking the rules. The Correspondents follow 6 of these women: Lee Miller, Helen Kirkpatrick, Martha Gellhorn, Sigrid Schultz, and Virginia Cowles. If you’re not a big nonfiction person, it reads like a story, even the parts giving background information on war events! Each of the women lived fascinating lives and I enjoyed seeing how each of them approached the war and developed their own writing style—-and often, their ideology and sense of identity as well. Their stories also intertwine, as they were contemporaries of one another, and chapters will often switch between them, efficiently comparing and contrasting their war, reporting, and personal experiences without being super confusing. Their stories are woven together expertly, and Mackrell really brings them to life. The only major flaw to me is that I would have liked to hear more about Sigrid Schultz, a Jewish reporter. We heard about her more at the beginning of the war, as she witnessed the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Regime in Berlin (and totally bashed him in the press while writing under a secret pseudonym!) but as the book went on she didn’t appear very much. Overall I enjoyed it a lot, did a lot of annotating, and definitely want a copy when it comes out in the fall! If you love learning about military/war history, women’s history, or the lives of writers, mark your calendars! THE CORRESPONDENTS releases Nov.2.
May 26, 2023
This book is a unique gem, sharing the lives and work of six remarkable women. I think lately we've been learning more about the women in history who were pushed to the side or not given credit for their work and this book is a great accomplishment to that uncovering. There were times when I struggled with how much the narrative jumped around from woman to woman. Though I think Mackrell is mostly following the timeline of the war, not so much the individuals. And I did want to hear more of their voices, although I think the point is that we're prompted to read their individual work on our own. Which makes sense and is something I will be doing! If you don't read this book, definitely look up and learn about the women featured here, they were strong, resilient and true American heroes.
July 12, 2023
Bad tendonitis so trying not to minimize use of keyboard.
Astonishing stories of brave women journalists covering war. I had no idea.
Astonishing stories of brave women journalists covering war. I had no idea.
June 14, 2021
Knowing WW2 history is one thing. Revisiting it through the eyes of six brave, talented female correspondents who had to fight constantly for the chance to cover the war brought that history to life. The women showcased in this book fought to make sure their readers knew the truths of the war. It wasn’t an easy path they chose. Author Judith Mackrell has given readers a well researched look into the heroism and determination needed to persevere as female wartime correspondents in a time when women were often not welcome. The stories told take readers from the run up to the war and through multiple battles. Seeing the war through the reporters’ eyes brings it to life in a new way.
This title will definitely be on my classroom shelf, and I’ll encourage my students to read it.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to read an ARC of this publication courtesy of NetGalley.
This title will definitely be on my classroom shelf, and I’ll encourage my students to read it.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to read an ARC of this publication courtesy of NetGalley.
January 26, 2022
Maybe I'm too bothered by Mackrell (and her editors) getting the year of Pearl Harbor wrong (twice!) Contains lots of underreported history and an excellent accounting of how war changed those who fought and reported it. The stories about how some of the warnings about Hitler in their early reporting were ignored are unnerving in today's world.
July 17, 2022
I now have an answer to the question, "Which historical figure would you like to meet?" Any of these six women.
November 20, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for the beautiful finished edition of this book in exchange for my review. I loved everything about it.
If you are a feminist: read this book.
If you are interested in war stories: read this book.
If you appreciate quality nonfiction: read this book.
If you want to know the untold stories: read this book.
The author tells the stories of six, courageous, intrepid, forthright, intelligent, hard-working female journalists who worked the frontlines during WW2. And included the stories of the aftermath too, which is completely unique compared to anything I've read in the past. This is the story of determination and perseverance. As a woman, I wish these were stories that were better known today, and will be recommending this book to everyone I know.
The book is thoroughly researched, and tells the stories of these women so well that it reads as easily as fiction. The book is sometimes shocking, and always sobering. It illustrates the strengths of women, and also their vulnerability. The author doesn't shy away from showing the toll the war took on their lives, and it is impossible to read without an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.
If you are a feminist: read this book.
If you are interested in war stories: read this book.
If you appreciate quality nonfiction: read this book.
If you want to know the untold stories: read this book.
The author tells the stories of six, courageous, intrepid, forthright, intelligent, hard-working female journalists who worked the frontlines during WW2. And included the stories of the aftermath too, which is completely unique compared to anything I've read in the past. This is the story of determination and perseverance. As a woman, I wish these were stories that were better known today, and will be recommending this book to everyone I know.
The book is thoroughly researched, and tells the stories of these women so well that it reads as easily as fiction. The book is sometimes shocking, and always sobering. It illustrates the strengths of women, and also their vulnerability. The author doesn't shy away from showing the toll the war took on their lives, and it is impossible to read without an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.
January 28, 2022
A fantastic book. Mackrell did a great job threading a thrilling narrative of these six women not only as they covered the war but how they got there and the effect it had on their lives after. I only have two gripes: the first, really bizarrely obvious factual errors, including the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into the war (I am BAFFLED an editor didn't catch either???). The second was how Marguerite Higgins was covered in this book. I understand she was a competitive, controversial, and largely maligned figure when she showed up on the front, but for a book that devoted so much compassion to complicated women and their struggle to do their job, it was glaring how unforgiving and harsh the brief description of her stood out. I just kept thinking about what Patricia Lochridge, another WWII correspondent, said about her: "Maybe there's room in a war for a person like her."
research
August 20, 2021⤑ research tag: in an effort to organise my shelves, I'm going to be labelling the books I'm using for study purposes as I tend to dip in and out of these.
Thank youuuuu Kymberly for a copy of this book <333
Going with the Boys is Judith Mackrell's examination of six female correspondents during World War II: Martha Gellhorn, Virginia Cowles, Lee Miller, Clare Hollingworth, Sigrid Schultz and Helen Kirkpatrick.
Thank youuuuu Kymberly for a copy of this book <333
Going with the Boys is Judith Mackrell's examination of six female correspondents during World War II: Martha Gellhorn, Virginia Cowles, Lee Miller, Clare Hollingworth, Sigrid Schultz and Helen Kirkpatrick.
November 7, 2021
In THE CORRESPONDENTS, noted author Judith Mackrell has assembled and intertwined the reporting careers of six intrepid females who wrote their truths and made their mark in the chaos and carnage of World War II.
Two of the women highlighted here were already well known --- Lee Miller was a fashion photographer, and Martha Gelhorn was married to widely acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway --- at the war’s early rumblings. The others --- Virginia Cowles, Clare Hollingworth, Helen Kirkpatrick and Sigrid Schultz --- were pursuing journalistic careers in the frustrating minor leagues to which women were generally confined in that era. Each had an instinct for ferreting out relevant information, and all were in danger throughout much of the war years. Still, they refused to hold back what they knew when they believed the world should know about it.
Cowles befriended young Unity Mitford, who was an entertaining friend to Hitler when his plans for war were reaching a boiling point. Unity confided that Hitler couldn’t stand to be bored, leaving Cowles with the disquieting sense that the fate of the world rested on “the ennui of one man.” Hollingworth’s view of the war began with her presence in Poland during its initial invasion, an experience that toughened her outwardly and increased her inner determination and detachment. Kirkpatrick covered the early phase of the Battle of Britain, enjoined to present the horrific sights she observed in a positive light to give readers hope and heart.
Miller’s writings and photographs captured the human devastation: “the child’s doll, flung onto a pile of rubble, its arms stuck up in a poignant parody of surrender.” Gelhorn visited Bergen-Belsen at the war’s end, hearing stories from women “who had lived with death too long.” Schultz experienced perhaps the most perilous assignments because she had hidden the fact of her Jewishness. Yet her contacts and language proficiency gave her access to Goebbels, Göring and other high-ups in the Nazi pantheon of power.
Mackrell, whose celebrated works on women’s accomplishments include BLOOMSBURY BALLERINA and FLAPPERS, has organized this chronology with scholarly intensity. She brings every moment to life, serving up the women’s views of world war on all fronts --- from Europe to Africa and Asia, and later Vietnam --- with sizzling realism. The book concludes with a satisfying epilogue to give readers an enlightening look at the later lives of these six courageous correspondents.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
Two of the women highlighted here were already well known --- Lee Miller was a fashion photographer, and Martha Gelhorn was married to widely acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway --- at the war’s early rumblings. The others --- Virginia Cowles, Clare Hollingworth, Helen Kirkpatrick and Sigrid Schultz --- were pursuing journalistic careers in the frustrating minor leagues to which women were generally confined in that era. Each had an instinct for ferreting out relevant information, and all were in danger throughout much of the war years. Still, they refused to hold back what they knew when they believed the world should know about it.
Cowles befriended young Unity Mitford, who was an entertaining friend to Hitler when his plans for war were reaching a boiling point. Unity confided that Hitler couldn’t stand to be bored, leaving Cowles with the disquieting sense that the fate of the world rested on “the ennui of one man.” Hollingworth’s view of the war began with her presence in Poland during its initial invasion, an experience that toughened her outwardly and increased her inner determination and detachment. Kirkpatrick covered the early phase of the Battle of Britain, enjoined to present the horrific sights she observed in a positive light to give readers hope and heart.
Miller’s writings and photographs captured the human devastation: “the child’s doll, flung onto a pile of rubble, its arms stuck up in a poignant parody of surrender.” Gelhorn visited Bergen-Belsen at the war’s end, hearing stories from women “who had lived with death too long.” Schultz experienced perhaps the most perilous assignments because she had hidden the fact of her Jewishness. Yet her contacts and language proficiency gave her access to Goebbels, Göring and other high-ups in the Nazi pantheon of power.
Mackrell, whose celebrated works on women’s accomplishments include BLOOMSBURY BALLERINA and FLAPPERS, has organized this chronology with scholarly intensity. She brings every moment to life, serving up the women’s views of world war on all fronts --- from Europe to Africa and Asia, and later Vietnam --- with sizzling realism. The book concludes with a satisfying epilogue to give readers an enlightening look at the later lives of these six courageous correspondents.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
November 17, 2021
“This was my show, my show” - Martha Gellhorn
I can’t recall the last time I was so completely immersed in a story and THE CORRESPONDENTS deserves so many more stars than 5. From Martha who one-upped her hubby Hemingway by stowing away onboard a ship while the rest of the journalists were quarantined in safety away from the action to Clare who facilitated the escape of *over 3,500* men, women, and children from Nazi Germany AND ONLY RECENTLY PASSED AWAY IN JANUARY 2017 AT AGE 105 (!!), these six women were a delight to get to know - and I would absolutely read individual bios of each one.
I will say though, as much as I love Hemingway, Martha’s story could have easily stood on its own; how much Papa is too much Papa? Prior to THE CORRESPONDENTS I didn’t think there was a limit. Here though, I could have done without him (“They’ll be reading my stuff long after the worms have finished with you.” Hell of a writer, shitty husband.)
With any WWII nonfic, there are m a n y content warnings to be aware of and that goes double here. Not only was one of the women raped when she was 7 (there’s page-time devoted to detailing the account) but these journalists wanted to make sure their readers knew exactly what was happening. The liberation of camps like Auschwitz, Dachau, and Buchenwald were horrifically and heartbreakingly described. This hits far too close to home for me and I tend to avoid novels featuring camps; a chapter in a nonfic was very difficult for me - this book is hands down worth a read but it’s not an easy, lighthearted tale.
I can’t recall the last time I was so completely immersed in a story and THE CORRESPONDENTS deserves so many more stars than 5. From Martha who one-upped her hubby Hemingway by stowing away onboard a ship while the rest of the journalists were quarantined in safety away from the action to Clare who facilitated the escape of *over 3,500* men, women, and children from Nazi Germany AND ONLY RECENTLY PASSED AWAY IN JANUARY 2017 AT AGE 105 (!!), these six women were a delight to get to know - and I would absolutely read individual bios of each one.
I will say though, as much as I love Hemingway, Martha’s story could have easily stood on its own; how much Papa is too much Papa? Prior to THE CORRESPONDENTS I didn’t think there was a limit. Here though, I could have done without him (“They’ll be reading my stuff long after the worms have finished with you.” Hell of a writer, shitty husband.)
With any WWII nonfic, there are m a n y content warnings to be aware of and that goes double here. Not only was one of the women raped when she was 7 (there’s page-time devoted to detailing the account) but these journalists wanted to make sure their readers knew exactly what was happening. The liberation of camps like Auschwitz, Dachau, and Buchenwald were horrifically and heartbreakingly described. This hits far too close to home for me and I tend to avoid novels featuring camps; a chapter in a nonfic was very difficult for me - this book is hands down worth a read but it’s not an easy, lighthearted tale.
April 7, 2022
The Correspondents: Six Women Writers on the Front Lines of World War II is a narrowly, but deeply, focused account of these near legendary female correspondents and their struggles to obtain recognition equal to their male colleagues. It is frustrating and sad to read of their difficulties. Author Judith Mackrell writes with a novelist’s eye (though she is not a novelist), making amazing use of the documentary resources underpinning this extraordinarily well-researched book. I was especially struck by the balanced treatment Mackrell accords her subjects. To be blunt, it’s not just a whiny catalogue of the injustices meted out to these pioneering journalists. It is, rather, a full treatment of their challenges, successes, together with the advantages they occasionally possessed as well as their personal & professional failings. I hesitate to call any work definitive; but I suspect no writer will attempt to cover the same ground for quite some time.
December 30, 2021
The Correspondents compliments the attention given the efforts of women in WW2 resistance in a number of recent books by targeting the challenges faced by another group of women: journalists and photographers on the front lines.
This rich narrative focuses on six prominent but uniquely distinct women, beginning in pre-war Europe. Organizationally the chronological presentation is both fascinating and clear, with transitions between individuals and across geopolitical events smooth and compelling. The writing is crisp, the content well informed. Even readers with significant knowledge of WW2 history may gleam new insights into the Winter War, Balkan outbreaks, and Mid Eastern involvement.
But the women are the main focus and what a crew. Helen Fitzgerald. Virginia Cowles. Clare Hollingsworth. Sigrid Schultz. Lee Miller. Martha Gellhorn. Each offers a distinct approach to the challenges facing women and women war correspondents. Each gains our respect for their achievements and our empathy for the difficult lives and sometimes self inflicted obstacles they faced.
This rich narrative focuses on six prominent but uniquely distinct women, beginning in pre-war Europe. Organizationally the chronological presentation is both fascinating and clear, with transitions between individuals and across geopolitical events smooth and compelling. The writing is crisp, the content well informed. Even readers with significant knowledge of WW2 history may gleam new insights into the Winter War, Balkan outbreaks, and Mid Eastern involvement.
But the women are the main focus and what a crew. Helen Fitzgerald. Virginia Cowles. Clare Hollingsworth. Sigrid Schultz. Lee Miller. Martha Gellhorn. Each offers a distinct approach to the challenges facing women and women war correspondents. Each gains our respect for their achievements and our empathy for the difficult lives and sometimes self inflicted obstacles they faced.
April 16, 2024
This is a great overview of some of the incredibly intrepid women who covered the Second World War as journalists. I'm astounded by their courage and determination, and by the fortitude with which they faced down both enemy fire and the sexism of their own editors and colleagues. I was particularly moved by the analysis of how the thrills and horrors of the war affected the individual women in different ways, and how they all struggled in their own ways to revert to civilian life again after the war was over. I'm taking this a starting point for learning more about these remarkable women—and I've already bought a biography of Martha Gellhorn to kick things off.
September 26, 2023
Brilliant and so incredibly written and researched. I'm very sad to have finished and said goodbye to some incredible women. For anyone interested in WW2 and the role female journalists played, this is a must. So so good.
February 27, 2022
Well written. Interesting. Impressive women and journalists.
March 17, 2024
This book includes the stories of Martha Graham, Lee Miller, Sigrid Schultz, Virginia Cowles, Clare Hollingworth, and Helen Kirkpatrick. So many of the anecdotes aren't really surprising, considering the culture and time. But still, you can't help but be taken back by some of the extraordinary recountings.
I'm never ashamed to admit I lack knowledge in certain areas - isn't that the point of consuming more information - so to have learned more about these amazing women was a wonderful experience. Not only their experiences during the war, but the way those experiences stayed with them throughout the rest of their lives, for better or worse.
I'm never ashamed to admit I lack knowledge in certain areas - isn't that the point of consuming more information - so to have learned more about these amazing women was a wonderful experience. Not only their experiences during the war, but the way those experiences stayed with them throughout the rest of their lives, for better or worse.
March 22, 2024
The Correspondents was a very good book, thoroughly documenting the lives of six female World War II journalists: Lee Miller, Sigrid Schultz, Virginia Cowles, Clare Hollingworth, Helen Kirkpatrick, and St. Louis' own (and Ernest Hemingway's wife for a time) Martha Gellhorn. Hailing from St. Louis, I was particularly interested in Martha, but also found Sigrid's story compelling since she was reporting directly from the "belly of the beast" as Berlin bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune from 1933-1945. At great risk, ingeniously circumventing Nazi censorship, she was among the first to alert the world on September 1, 1939 that Hitler's troops had invaded Poland.
These women took various routes to becoming the war correspondents they became, such as Lee Miller who began as an avant-garde Parisian model or Virginia Cowles, a "society girl" columnist turned combat reporter. Martha Gellhorn was initially famous as Hemingway's third wife, but eventually out-scooped him by venturing into the combat zone by stowing away on a hospital ship while Ernest was behind the lines, drinking & regaling his buddies with his numerous adventure sagas. All the female correspondents faced constant obstacles; the foremost concern of the SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force) being bathroom accomodations. The journalists were tough and wished to be treated just as their male peers, but of course, that was seldom the case. They often had to sneak or finagle their way to the front to get the real stories, but they persisted, even if it meant playing up to Russian generals.
Judith Mackrell has shone a light on a little-known aspect of WWII history. Interestingly, she is not primarily a historian but a celebrated dance writer (never knew that was even a genre!) who co-authored The Oxford History of Dance. Her talents obviously range beyond that subject matter, as evidenced in this excellent book.
These women took various routes to becoming the war correspondents they became, such as Lee Miller who began as an avant-garde Parisian model or Virginia Cowles, a "society girl" columnist turned combat reporter. Martha Gellhorn was initially famous as Hemingway's third wife, but eventually out-scooped him by venturing into the combat zone by stowing away on a hospital ship while Ernest was behind the lines, drinking & regaling his buddies with his numerous adventure sagas. All the female correspondents faced constant obstacles; the foremost concern of the SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force) being bathroom accomodations. The journalists were tough and wished to be treated just as their male peers, but of course, that was seldom the case. They often had to sneak or finagle their way to the front to get the real stories, but they persisted, even if it meant playing up to Russian generals.
Judith Mackrell has shone a light on a little-known aspect of WWII history. Interestingly, she is not primarily a historian but a celebrated dance writer (never knew that was even a genre!) who co-authored The Oxford History of Dance. Her talents obviously range beyond that subject matter, as evidenced in this excellent book.
March 21, 2023
DNF at page 219. I wanted to learn more about these women & their stories, but the writing was dense & the author jumped from one person to another quite often. I couldn't go any further b/c there were too many errors. First, the author wrote that FDR was elected in March 1933 which was bad enough. What decided it for me was when she wrote more than once that the attack on Pearl Harbor happened in December 1942.
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