A Woman's Experiences in the Great War

by Louise Mack

An eye-witness account of the fall of Antwerp to the Germans in the opening months of World War I, Mack’s story has passages of extraordinary vividness and immediacy. Flawed by the most treacly sentiment in some places and the most ferocious anti-German invective in others, her account endures as an uncommonly forthright, passionate testimony to those tragic events and the ordinary people who were the true heroes of them. As a forty-something, coquettish war correspondent wrapped in sable furs and speaking French in her native Australian accent, she seems to have inspired amusement in some observers, but her courage in the face of wartime brutality bordered on suicidal effrontery, as she insisted time after time on having a vantage-point in the most dangerous places at the most dangerous times. Perhaps over-generous to the "little" Belgians (who had not long before this been perpetrators of hideous imperial atrocities themselves), she is able to be honest even about those she admires most, pointing out, for example, the appalling number of spies among the Belgian population and the foibles of those who claimed to be its leaders. There are startling moments in this book, riveting details that could only have been recorded by an eyewitness as audacious and authentic as Mack, no matter her sentimental biases.
Summary by Expatriate

Genres: History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Born in 1870 in Hobart, Australia, Marie Louise Hamilton Mack was the daughter of the Rev. Hans Hamilton Mack, and his wife Jemima James, both of whom immigrated to Australia from Ireland. Mack was one of seven children, and her sister Amy Eleanor Mack was also to become a writer. She was educated at Sydney Girls' High School, where she met Ethel Turner, with whom she would become lifelong friends.

Mack worked briefly as a governess, before becoming a journalist for the Bulletin, contributing a column called "A Woman's Letter." She married barrister John Percy Creed in 1896, and then moved to England in 1901, where she continued her work as a journalist and author. Mack published her first and only collection of poetry, Dreams in Flower, that same year. She subsequently spent some time in Italy, where she edited The Italian Gazette in Florence, from 1904-07. John Percy Creed died in 1914, and Mack became the first female war correspondent in Belgium that same year, reporting on the German occupation, and publishing A Woman's Experiences in the Great War in 1915. She returned to Australia in 1916, working as a lecturer and journalist, and marrying Allen Illingworth Leyland in 1924. She died in 1935.

Reviews

[Chrissie]

Free download available at Librivox, here: https://librivox.org/a-womans-experie...

Read by Expatriate.

[Muaz Jalil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her description of Antwerp's surrender to German forces was quite moving. I think the title should be war correspondent, it has nothing to do with her being a lady. I guess because it was written so long ago that they had to specify her gender! She mentions her visit to Dunkirk and I was thinking, give it 20+ years

[A.L. Sowards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written by a female war correspondent from Australia and originally published in 1915. It’s part memoir, part propaganda. I kind of rolled my eyes when she went off about how ugly the German race was. On the other hand, the parts about her travels through Belgium as it was falling to the Germans in fall 1914 were interesting (but I took them with a grain of salt). Mack was also a novelist, so she had an eye for a story and was a good writer. Parts of the account were gripping. Probably 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for goodreads.

[Maxwell Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great primary source!

Louise Mack's work provides an interesting outlook on an aspect of the beginning of World War 1: agony of the civilians, destruction of cities, and flights of refugees.

Though victorian in her writing (hyperbole to an extent), her documentation covered well the suffering and undertakings of the civilians and soldiers of Belgium, France, Germany, and United Kingdom. I found many parts of the book impactful, like the destruction of the Belgian church in in the beginning, the surrender of Antwerp, the flight of Belgian refugees, and moments with the Germans close.

In the end, an interesting book from an interesting view of the war. I recommend it to all interested in WW1 and history of journalism.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This account has a biased, almost propaganda-esque feel to it, as well as the melodrama typical of the time, but it's still interesting to read about the events the author witnessed and get snatches of everyday life during the German takover of Belgium in WWI. Also, be warned that the author quotes passages in French - some of them lengthy - without any translation. You can get the gyst of everything without understanding the French, but there are a few details you'll miss.

[Robin Paull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many memoirs and first-hand accounts of WWI. This one stands out for it's excruciating vividness. Mack writes with clear and genuine emotion. The description of night in an evacuated Belgian town was almost too much for me. Highly recommended.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the bombing of Ukraine on my mind, this book took on new meaning. Mack describes the fall of Antwerp. It is sad that we cannot learn from history and keep repeating it.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

One can only think that Louise Mack the journalist, author and main character of this true to life book was just plain nuts! She was well established as a journalist and writer at the opening of WWI and decided to travel into occupied Belgium as most were fleeing the Germans as they tromped through the cities and villages of that small country.

The descriptions of traveling conditions nearly 100 years ago during an invasion are incredible. Grand hotels became havens for the travelers until the owners were too scared to let them in. The American consulate helped several times to assist with travelling papers. Risking their own lives, ordinary Belgian citizens stepped in to assist Louise Mack escape the Germans at one point. One Antwerp resident gave her a key his family home and told her to stay there for safety if needed-the house was fully stocked with food and other provisions for six months! But the family had decided to flee the city and country!!

A little known book. If you are a lover of WWI literature, fiction or non-fiction I think you'd enjoy this one. It's fairly short and the woman's point of view is a bit different than usual.

I picked this book up for my Nook for $.99.