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Women of Action
Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics
A commemoration of brave yet largely forgotten women who served in the First World War
In time for the 2014 centennial of the start of the Great War, this book brings to life the brave and often surprising exploits of 16 fascinating women from around the world who served their countries at a time when most of them didn’t even have the right to vote.
Readers meet 17-year-old Frenchwoman Emilienne Moreau, who assisted the Allies as a guide and set up a first-aid post in her home to attend to the wounded; Russian peasant Maria Bochkareva, who joined the Imperial Russian Army by securing the personal permission of Tsar Nicholas II, was twice wounded in battle and decorated for bravery, and created and led the all-women combat unit the “Women’s Battalion of Death” on the Eastern Front; and American journalist Madeleine Zabriskie Doty, who risked her life to travel twice to Germany during the war in order to report back the truth, whatever the cost. These and other suspense-filled stories of brave girls and women are told through the use of engaging narrative, dialogue, direct quotes, and document and diary excerpts to lend authenticity and immediacy.
Introductory material opens each section to provide solid historical context, and each profile includes informative sidebars and “Learn More” lists of relevant books and websites, making this a fabulous resource for students, teachers, parents, libraries, and homeschoolers.
In time for the 2014 centennial of the start of the Great War, this book brings to life the brave and often surprising exploits of 16 fascinating women from around the world who served their countries at a time when most of them didn’t even have the right to vote.
Readers meet 17-year-old Frenchwoman Emilienne Moreau, who assisted the Allies as a guide and set up a first-aid post in her home to attend to the wounded; Russian peasant Maria Bochkareva, who joined the Imperial Russian Army by securing the personal permission of Tsar Nicholas II, was twice wounded in battle and decorated for bravery, and created and led the all-women combat unit the “Women’s Battalion of Death” on the Eastern Front; and American journalist Madeleine Zabriskie Doty, who risked her life to travel twice to Germany during the war in order to report back the truth, whatever the cost. These and other suspense-filled stories of brave girls and women are told through the use of engaging narrative, dialogue, direct quotes, and document and diary excerpts to lend authenticity and immediacy.
Introductory material opens each section to provide solid historical context, and each profile includes informative sidebars and “Learn More” lists of relevant books and websites, making this a fabulous resource for students, teachers, parents, libraries, and homeschoolers.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2014
54 people are currently reading
3049 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn J. Atwood
11 books290 followersKathryn has written multiple young adult collective biographies on women and war for the Chicago Review Press. Her first book, Women Heroes of World War II, gets all the attention, but Booklist gave Kathryn's book on the Pacific Theater of WWII a starred review and likened each chapter to "a cliff-hanger screenplay." And Courageous Women of the Vietnam War was honored with one of those awards that to unfocused eyes sort of resembles the Newbery Medal.
The Belgian Girls, which Kirkus claims is "intriguing, disturbing, and historically compelling," was born of Kathryn's admiration for the European resisters of both world wars, especially Gabrielle Petit, a young Belgian woman who worked for British Intelligence during World War I.
Kathryn has been seen on Chicago's WGN TV, "America: Fact vs. Fiction," and the Acorn TV series, "Deception: WWII"; heard on the BBC World Service's "History Hour" program and BBC America; published in The Historian and War, Literature & the Arts; and featured as a guest speaker at dozens of historical societies and libraries, including the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, and the Atlanta History Center.
Follow her on Instagram at KathrynJAtwood.
The Belgian Girls, which Kirkus claims is "intriguing, disturbing, and historically compelling," was born of Kathryn's admiration for the European resisters of both world wars, especially Gabrielle Petit, a young Belgian woman who worked for British Intelligence during World War I.
Kathryn has been seen on Chicago's WGN TV, "America: Fact vs. Fiction," and the Acorn TV series, "Deception: WWII"; heard on the BBC World Service's "History Hour" program and BBC America; published in The Historian and War, Literature & the Arts; and featured as a guest speaker at dozens of historical societies and libraries, including the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, and the Atlanta History Center.
Follow her on Instagram at KathrynJAtwood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
December 18, 2019
Kathryn's record is wonderfully designed, ideally served and received with delight. Women were active, if not more then equally, in the World Wars and this record is about the women who became inspirations in the first World War and changed the course of their country's participation. It is fast, easy to read and meaningful biography (collective) that does not bore you unlike many other books in the genre do. However, the choice of the author may be an area of concern for many readers. They may think it could have her instead of her or her along with her...
May 9, 2020
I love it when an author refuses to dilute female achievements into feel-good inspiration porn.
A stunning subversion of those androcentric stock images we associate with the ‘War to End all Wars’: the archduke cruising through the streets of Sarajevo, the flooded trenches of the Western front, the wreaths of poppies on the cenotaph.
Atwood positions sixteen remarkable women within their own personal experiences and motives, as well as their wider contribution to the war effort. For such a pivotal event within the female experience, especially with regards to suffrage, WW1 and its women is not remembered or glorified/glamourized in the same way as its successor; and this upsets me. These women had to overcome substantially more prejudice and obstacles to fight for their cause and personal fulfilment – and Atwood contextualises this brilliantly.
This book positions the conflict within its wider socio-political context, looking at its causes, impacts, aftermath, and the experience of those involved across the globe. I am immensely grateful for this context; it aligns these experiences with the better-known facets of the war.
My only objection is that some of the biographies lack the heart that so charged the others. It’s devastating when the entries become samey – it’s like reading a book about the Holocaust: torturously predictable, as people are reduced to numbers.
A wonderful tribute. The women’s remarkable involvement needs to be recognised and catered for in the history we teach coming generations.
A stunning subversion of those androcentric stock images we associate with the ‘War to End all Wars’: the archduke cruising through the streets of Sarajevo, the flooded trenches of the Western front, the wreaths of poppies on the cenotaph.
Atwood positions sixteen remarkable women within their own personal experiences and motives, as well as their wider contribution to the war effort. For such a pivotal event within the female experience, especially with regards to suffrage, WW1 and its women is not remembered or glorified/glamourized in the same way as its successor; and this upsets me. These women had to overcome substantially more prejudice and obstacles to fight for their cause and personal fulfilment – and Atwood contextualises this brilliantly.
This book positions the conflict within its wider socio-political context, looking at its causes, impacts, aftermath, and the experience of those involved across the globe. I am immensely grateful for this context; it aligns these experiences with the better-known facets of the war.
My only objection is that some of the biographies lack the heart that so charged the others. It’s devastating when the entries become samey – it’s like reading a book about the Holocaust: torturously predictable, as people are reduced to numbers.
A wonderful tribute. The women’s remarkable involvement needs to be recognised and catered for in the history we teach coming generations.
March 31, 2015
Today is the last day of Women's History Month for 2015 and because the theme this year is about Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives, I thought who better to turn to for today's post than Kathryn Atwood. A few year ago, Atwood wrote a fascinating book called Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance and Rescue. Now she has followed it up with a book about women heroes in World War I and once again, their stories are as amazing as they are compelling.
In Women Heroes of World War I, Atwood introduces the reader to some of the women, a few still in their teens, who decided to serve their country, despite the real dangers that they were to face. Some became nurses, caring for the wounded as close to the front lines as they could get. Others joined the resistance or became spies, some became soldiers fighting side by side with men, and still others were journalists, reporting events from the heart of the conflict.
Some of the women are familiar, like British born Edith Cavell who found herself in Belgium when the war started, director of a school of nursing there. After the Germans invaded Belgium, hospitals were forbidden to care for any Allied soldiers that might find their to one of them. Edith, ignoring the Germans, cared for wounded Germans soldiers openly, and for wounded Allied soldiers secretly. And when these were healthy enough, she made such they had safe passage out of Belgium to the Netherlands. Edith and her network can be credited for heroically getting a lot of Allied soldiers to safety before the getting caught by the Germans. Her capture and punishment, which caused an uproar around the world, subsequently changed the way Germany handled women POWs at the insistence of the Kaiser.
One of my favorite stories is Helena Gleichen and her friend Nina Hollings, two ambulance drivers in Italy who sometimes found themselves driving through intense shelling to get wounded men to hospital. Later, after training in Paris to become radiographers, they could be found driving around the Italian front with a portable x-ray machine. With their x-ray skill, Helena and Nina were able to help the wounded in some surprising ways, for example, locating shrapnel lodged in areas that wouldn't have been found otherwise and bringing relief to the wounded man. For their heroic work, the women were awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (the OBE).
My personal favorite is the story of Mary Roberts Rinehart. Yes, I do mean the mystery writer. Mary was also a journalist who wrote for the Saturday Evening Post and in 1915, she decided she wanted to go to Belgium. After all, she had nursing experience and could report of the conditions of the hospitals there, but what she really wanted to do was experience the war as soldiers do. Mary finally did get to see the front lines, including no man's land, and even managed to get an extensive interview with the King of Belgium. Returning home she wrote her articles, but realized the war was going to last longer than anyone thought.
Women Heroes of World War I is a well-written, riveting book. Atwood divides the women's experiences into four sections - Resisters and Spies, Medical Personnel, Soldiers, and Journalists. The women profiled come from different countries, including the United States, France, Britain, Russia and each of their individual stories ends with a Learn More inset listing where to find more information them. Atwood's extensive, intelligent research is evident in all the women's stories and she includes sidebars that give additional information about the women and the war. Also included are an Introduction, an Epilogue and many, many photographs of war and the different women in it. An extensive and useful Glossary and Bibliography, and well as a list of websites can also be found at the back of the book.
World War I was at first greeted with incredible enthusiasm, causing young men to unhesitatingly leave school, jobs, and families to join their countries armed services. After all, no one thought it would last more than a few months. Women were also eager to do their part and for some that meant being in the thick of the fighting, not working on the home front. Women Heroes of World War I not only informs the reader about these now mostly forgotten women heroes, but pays homage to them and all the women who decided to do constructive for their warring countries.
I can't recommend Women Heroes of World War I highly enough, and what a wonderful book with which to end this year's Women History Month.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted at The Children's War
In Women Heroes of World War I, Atwood introduces the reader to some of the women, a few still in their teens, who decided to serve their country, despite the real dangers that they were to face. Some became nurses, caring for the wounded as close to the front lines as they could get. Others joined the resistance or became spies, some became soldiers fighting side by side with men, and still others were journalists, reporting events from the heart of the conflict.
Some of the women are familiar, like British born Edith Cavell who found herself in Belgium when the war started, director of a school of nursing there. After the Germans invaded Belgium, hospitals were forbidden to care for any Allied soldiers that might find their to one of them. Edith, ignoring the Germans, cared for wounded Germans soldiers openly, and for wounded Allied soldiers secretly. And when these were healthy enough, she made such they had safe passage out of Belgium to the Netherlands. Edith and her network can be credited for heroically getting a lot of Allied soldiers to safety before the getting caught by the Germans. Her capture and punishment, which caused an uproar around the world, subsequently changed the way Germany handled women POWs at the insistence of the Kaiser.
One of my favorite stories is Helena Gleichen and her friend Nina Hollings, two ambulance drivers in Italy who sometimes found themselves driving through intense shelling to get wounded men to hospital. Later, after training in Paris to become radiographers, they could be found driving around the Italian front with a portable x-ray machine. With their x-ray skill, Helena and Nina were able to help the wounded in some surprising ways, for example, locating shrapnel lodged in areas that wouldn't have been found otherwise and bringing relief to the wounded man. For their heroic work, the women were awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (the OBE).
My personal favorite is the story of Mary Roberts Rinehart. Yes, I do mean the mystery writer. Mary was also a journalist who wrote for the Saturday Evening Post and in 1915, she decided she wanted to go to Belgium. After all, she had nursing experience and could report of the conditions of the hospitals there, but what she really wanted to do was experience the war as soldiers do. Mary finally did get to see the front lines, including no man's land, and even managed to get an extensive interview with the King of Belgium. Returning home she wrote her articles, but realized the war was going to last longer than anyone thought.
Women Heroes of World War I is a well-written, riveting book. Atwood divides the women's experiences into four sections - Resisters and Spies, Medical Personnel, Soldiers, and Journalists. The women profiled come from different countries, including the United States, France, Britain, Russia and each of their individual stories ends with a Learn More inset listing where to find more information them. Atwood's extensive, intelligent research is evident in all the women's stories and she includes sidebars that give additional information about the women and the war. Also included are an Introduction, an Epilogue and many, many photographs of war and the different women in it. An extensive and useful Glossary and Bibliography, and well as a list of websites can also be found at the back of the book.
World War I was at first greeted with incredible enthusiasm, causing young men to unhesitatingly leave school, jobs, and families to join their countries armed services. After all, no one thought it would last more than a few months. Women were also eager to do their part and for some that meant being in the thick of the fighting, not working on the home front. Women Heroes of World War I not only informs the reader about these now mostly forgotten women heroes, but pays homage to them and all the women who decided to do constructive for their warring countries.
I can't recommend Women Heroes of World War I highly enough, and what a wonderful book with which to end this year's Women History Month.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted at The Children's War
October 7, 2014
Having read and reviewed Kathryn J. Atwood's earlier book, Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue (Women of Action), I was particularly eager to read her latest book in the Women of Action series: Women Heroes of World War I, 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics.
I'm happy to say that Ms. Atwood has once again written a book that should be on every required reading list there is for men and women.
Today's girls and young women, inundated with media messages that imply sex is a woman's only power, need to know that women also have power conferred by their intelligence, bravery, and the will to prevail -- just as men do.
Strong women aren't some latter-day phenomenon or something seen only in kick-ass contemporary movies. The women in this book lived heroic lives that put some men to shame. When male battalions refused to attack on command, Maria Bochkareva and her Russian Women's Battalion of Death rushed from the trenches to attack the German fortifications despite a deadly barrage of bullets.
Story Within the Story
The book is remarkable in that it gives a portrait of strong-willed, independent-thinking women in an era when women just weren't viewed that way by most of the world. In fact, for the women of action depicted in this book had to fight for the right to serve their respective countries.
These women couldn't even vote in their respective countries. In England, British women over the age of 30 gained the right to vote in 1918, Dutch women in 1919, and American women in 1920. Most European countries passed women's suffrage after World War I, but some delayed until World War II rolled around. France finally passed women's suffrage in 1944.
This book isn't just the story of gallant women who fought but also a concise and clearly presented history of the first war that involved most of the world. Contemporary people know little about World War I, but this war is still important and relevant to our world because it set the stage for the conflicts that we face in today's world.
Most of the people in Europe saw the war as a chance to prove their patriotism. They saw it as their chance for a great adventure, and they wanted to grab the opportunity quickly because everyone thought the war would be over in a few months time. Everyone was enthusiastic about it and inspired to make their contribution to winning the war.
Sadly, they were all wrong. As Atwood writes: "It was one generation's great adventure-turned-nightmare that became the most cataclysmic event of the century, a war that destroyed the ideas of the 19th century and thrust the world violently into the 20th."
From August 1914 to June 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending the global war, the 10 million military personnel and 7 million civilians were killed, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Why was this war so deadly? Because it was the first war to use chemical weapons -- chlorine and mustard gas; flame throwers, automatic rifles, and aerial warfare among other firsts.
Poignant and Profound
These stories are emotional and stirring. Without hesitation, these women never took no for an answer. When Helena Gleichen offered her services as an X-ray expert to the British War Office, they turned her away. When she took her equipment, bought with her own funds, to France, the French officers listened and told her they would use her. Instead, they stole her equipment after she demonstrated how to use it.
Helena refused to take that lying down. She personally chased them down and got her equipment back. A friend suggested she try the Italians. She did, and they welcomed her and her skill with open arms.
Then there was Dr. Elsie Inglis who went to Serbia. There is a saying there about Elsie: "In Scotland they made her a doctor; in Serbia, we would have made her a saint."
I defy you to read this and not feel the sting of tears in your eyes. All these women earned their place in history and deserve to be remembered not only for their contribution to the war effort but also for opening the door that led to women fulfilling their potential, for instance, working in professions that heretofore had been only for men, voting, and so much more.
Honor these amazing 16 women by reading this book and getting your daughters and sons to read it too.
I'm happy to say that Ms. Atwood has once again written a book that should be on every required reading list there is for men and women.
Today's girls and young women, inundated with media messages that imply sex is a woman's only power, need to know that women also have power conferred by their intelligence, bravery, and the will to prevail -- just as men do.
Strong women aren't some latter-day phenomenon or something seen only in kick-ass contemporary movies. The women in this book lived heroic lives that put some men to shame. When male battalions refused to attack on command, Maria Bochkareva and her Russian Women's Battalion of Death rushed from the trenches to attack the German fortifications despite a deadly barrage of bullets.
Story Within the Story
The book is remarkable in that it gives a portrait of strong-willed, independent-thinking women in an era when women just weren't viewed that way by most of the world. In fact, for the women of action depicted in this book had to fight for the right to serve their respective countries.
These women couldn't even vote in their respective countries. In England, British women over the age of 30 gained the right to vote in 1918, Dutch women in 1919, and American women in 1920. Most European countries passed women's suffrage after World War I, but some delayed until World War II rolled around. France finally passed women's suffrage in 1944.
This book isn't just the story of gallant women who fought but also a concise and clearly presented history of the first war that involved most of the world. Contemporary people know little about World War I, but this war is still important and relevant to our world because it set the stage for the conflicts that we face in today's world.
Most of the people in Europe saw the war as a chance to prove their patriotism. They saw it as their chance for a great adventure, and they wanted to grab the opportunity quickly because everyone thought the war would be over in a few months time. Everyone was enthusiastic about it and inspired to make their contribution to winning the war.
Sadly, they were all wrong. As Atwood writes: "It was one generation's great adventure-turned-nightmare that became the most cataclysmic event of the century, a war that destroyed the ideas of the 19th century and thrust the world violently into the 20th."
From August 1914 to June 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending the global war, the 10 million military personnel and 7 million civilians were killed, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Why was this war so deadly? Because it was the first war to use chemical weapons -- chlorine and mustard gas; flame throwers, automatic rifles, and aerial warfare among other firsts.
Poignant and Profound
These stories are emotional and stirring. Without hesitation, these women never took no for an answer. When Helena Gleichen offered her services as an X-ray expert to the British War Office, they turned her away. When she took her equipment, bought with her own funds, to France, the French officers listened and told her they would use her. Instead, they stole her equipment after she demonstrated how to use it.
Helena refused to take that lying down. She personally chased them down and got her equipment back. A friend suggested she try the Italians. She did, and they welcomed her and her skill with open arms.
Then there was Dr. Elsie Inglis who went to Serbia. There is a saying there about Elsie: "In Scotland they made her a doctor; in Serbia, we would have made her a saint."
I defy you to read this and not feel the sting of tears in your eyes. All these women earned their place in history and deserve to be remembered not only for their contribution to the war effort but also for opening the door that led to women fulfilling their potential, for instance, working in professions that heretofore had been only for men, voting, and so much more.
Honor these amazing 16 women by reading this book and getting your daughters and sons to read it too.
July 31, 2016
Fantastic. I think there was more context in this book than there had been in Women Heroes of World War II, but that's to be expected. World War II is more widely known by far. I don't think I'd even heard of any of these women before I read this book, which was honestly exciting. I was interested by the women who were in the resistance during both World Wars, and I loved that there was a chapter on female soldiers. It's probably safe to assume that women have served, covertly, during most wars, at least those that were popular in their home countries, but I was surprised at how many served openly. An entire battalion of women, on the Russian side. So far, I've been nothing but pleased with this series of books.
October 8, 2024
A really interesting read; the achievements of commitment of women such as those mentioned here would, I'm sure, go largely unnoticed with the work of authors like Ms Atwood.
I enjoyed every page.
I enjoyed every page.
March 24, 2015
Disclaimer: I have been Goodreads friends with Kathryn Atwood prior to the publication of her first book. Additionally, a few weeks ago, she asked if I would like a review copy of this book. The question came after I had ordered this copy.
The only thing wrong with this book and it is a small quibble, is that in the section on Mary Rinehart, her burial place in Arlington Cemetery is not mentioned.
There, that’s out of the way.
Atwood’s Women Heroes of World War I is an excellent companion volume to her first book, Women Heroes of World War II. This is in part because she makes connections to that book in her epilogue as well selecting a few women who were active in both World Wars.
World War I, along with a degree the Koran War, is a forgotten War in America. It tends to be dealt with quickly in American history books, and this largely because it did not affect Americans in the same degree it destroyed many European lives. Usually it is used simply as the launching board to a discussion about the League of Nations and the long term causes of World War II. True, the famous assassination is dealt with but that is usually given as the only spark, at least in pre-college, non –AP courses.
Atwood draws largely, for understandable reason, on non-American women, gathering various women from not only Britain and France, but the Eastern European countries as well, not only Russian, but Serbia and Romania as well. The women cover spies, resistors, nurses, and reporters, showing that bravery comes in the different shades.
The book opens with a good introduction, detailing the start of the war. This is done very well, progression beyond the assassination and tying the sparks of the war into a global view. This structure is repeated in each section’s introduction where background is given to such roles as nurse and reporter. The women range across social levels and ages, and their fates are varied.
It is to Atwood’s credit that she uses non-English sources, and includes women who also represent a variety of politics. The information about what happened to them after is particularly interesting, and at times heart-breaking. All of those women should be the focus of a bio pic.
Like the previous book, this one includes boxes that give edition details about various subjects, from the difference between a battalion and a regiment to a brief (and well done) biography of Mata Hari (who does not get her own chapter. These women would so kick her butt). It’s also nice to see quotes as well as some paragraphs about women who did not get their own chapter in the book. Such inclusion allows for a fuller picture and shows readers that the 16 women detailed were not unusual.
As a quick note, I love this series and am so happy that it exists.
April 17, 2016
This book is a collection of stories about some truly remarkable women who performed a variety of roles during the First World War - from nurses to spies/leaders of resistance networks behind enemy lines, doctors and surgeons, journalists, to soldiers on the battlefield (e.g., the Russian Army had within its ranks a Women's Battalion of Death during 1917 which saw considerable combat. One of its leaders, Maria Bockareva, had, after placing a request with the Tsar to serve in the Army shortly after the outbreak of war in August 1914, received official permission to serve in combat with a frontline unit, where she distinguished herself in battle).
April 1, 2021
A fascinating look into the bravery of largely forgotten women from the Great War.
3.75 stars
3.75 stars
June 16, 2014
When most people think of World War I, (if they even know what it is) the first things that come to mind are trenches and the famous picture of the Archduke and his wife moments before their (accidentally-on-purpose) assassination. Unfortunately, no ones thinks about a young French teen who gave food and information to British soldiers, a young nurse helping gas victims, or female soldiers. As a major (WWII) history buff, I believe history should be taught with people, not boring dates and facts in history books. After all, the entire war wouldn’t have existed if it wasn’t for the men and women during that time, and studying people’s stories bring life to history, and allow it to be presented in the interesting way it is.
I became a huge fan of Kathryn Atwood when I read her first book, Women Heroes of World War II, and was also impressed with the WWII memoir she edited, Code Name Pauline. Although WWII remains my primary area of interest, I decided to give WWI a try and was quite happy I did. I can now officially say I know 16 amazing women from the time period!
—
Part of the “Women of Action” series written for teens and young adults, Women Heroes of World War I is a collection of 16 short biographies about women from World War I. The biographies are divided into four parts; Resisters and Spies, Medical Personnel, Soldiers, and Journalists. The women featured are: Edith Cavell, Louise Thuliez, Emilienne Moreau, Gabrielle Petit, Marthe Cnockaert, Louise de Bettignies, Elsie Inglis, Olive King, Helene Gleichen, Shirley Millard, Maria Bochkareva, Flora Sandes, Marina Yurlova, Ecaterina Teodoroiu, Mary Roberts Rinehart, and Madeleine Zabriskie Doty.
Very few books are both interesting and factual. But, Atwood, a great storyteller and historian, manages to do just this by drawing stories from key sources. Each woman is well-researched, and instead of just boring facts about the person’s life, includes stories about the person, which makes each story more personable, instead of just another great random person in a history textbook. There is nothing graphic, making this most ideal for teens but appropriate for mostly anyone. A lot of background information is included for each part, making the book a lot more understandable and easily read, without complicated jargon. The writing is simple, making it more interesting.
Pictures are included for every single woman, so we can easily associate a face (and living person) with the name and story. One of the main things I enjoyed about Women Heroes of World War II, was additional resources after each story, the series’ biggest perk. This allows me to look more into the women I found most interesting. (My favorite stories were the resisters and spies, of course! I’ll definitely have to check out some of the additional resources listed)
Although WWI isn’t nearly as interesting in WWII, that doesn’t mean WWI’s brave heroines should go overlooked. I can’t say I enjoyed this one as well as I did Atwood’s earlier works, but that’s simply because Irena Sendler and Diet Eman (and a lot of the other women who I love) will always be my heroes. :) But, for a subject I’m not really interested in, as a teen, I really did enjoy it and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for well-researched but interesting alternatives to boring textbooks!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effected my review.
I became a huge fan of Kathryn Atwood when I read her first book, Women Heroes of World War II, and was also impressed with the WWII memoir she edited, Code Name Pauline. Although WWII remains my primary area of interest, I decided to give WWI a try and was quite happy I did. I can now officially say I know 16 amazing women from the time period!
—
Part of the “Women of Action” series written for teens and young adults, Women Heroes of World War I is a collection of 16 short biographies about women from World War I. The biographies are divided into four parts; Resisters and Spies, Medical Personnel, Soldiers, and Journalists. The women featured are: Edith Cavell, Louise Thuliez, Emilienne Moreau, Gabrielle Petit, Marthe Cnockaert, Louise de Bettignies, Elsie Inglis, Olive King, Helene Gleichen, Shirley Millard, Maria Bochkareva, Flora Sandes, Marina Yurlova, Ecaterina Teodoroiu, Mary Roberts Rinehart, and Madeleine Zabriskie Doty.
Very few books are both interesting and factual. But, Atwood, a great storyteller and historian, manages to do just this by drawing stories from key sources. Each woman is well-researched, and instead of just boring facts about the person’s life, includes stories about the person, which makes each story more personable, instead of just another great random person in a history textbook. There is nothing graphic, making this most ideal for teens but appropriate for mostly anyone. A lot of background information is included for each part, making the book a lot more understandable and easily read, without complicated jargon. The writing is simple, making it more interesting.
Pictures are included for every single woman, so we can easily associate a face (and living person) with the name and story. One of the main things I enjoyed about Women Heroes of World War II, was additional resources after each story, the series’ biggest perk. This allows me to look more into the women I found most interesting. (My favorite stories were the resisters and spies, of course! I’ll definitely have to check out some of the additional resources listed)
Although WWI isn’t nearly as interesting in WWII, that doesn’t mean WWI’s brave heroines should go overlooked. I can’t say I enjoyed this one as well as I did Atwood’s earlier works, but that’s simply because Irena Sendler and Diet Eman (and a lot of the other women who I love) will always be my heroes. :) But, for a subject I’m not really interested in, as a teen, I really did enjoy it and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for well-researched but interesting alternatives to boring textbooks!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effected my review.
November 18, 2020
Read in honor of the centennial of US Women's Suffrage. In The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, Elaine F. Weiss points out that women's professional work experience made possible their work of getting the vote.
Written for young adults, this book does provide all readers with useful information about other related texts.
Further Reading. Atwood suggests reading
• Memiors
• Biographies
• Histories of battles
Due tothe growing awareness of women's history some of the texts, such as the memiors, are available online. Others are being reprinted at costs prohibitive to very young adults but may be later found online as more and more material out if copyright is uploaded to services such as Gutenberg.
Picture Inserts. The picture inserts inform the text.
• The rulers who guided the war sometimes not immediately understood ways.
• The pictures of the heroes being described which allows names and faces to be matched.
• The pictures of some who participated in war--nurses, cossocks, munitions workers.
so young readers can see what people looked like--nurses, cossocks, among other pics.
People dressed differently, used different technology, and worked in factories that all looked and worked differently from what we are used to today. The pictures help conceptualize the world being described in the book.
The Epilogue. The epilogue tells in a succinct and thoughtful manner what the Great War cost society and people afterward.
The Glossary. At the back of the text is a Glossary which makes even clearer what was lightly glossed within the text.
Overall this book is a great teaching and learning tool for formal amd informal learning.
Next year I hope to read about women and their role in WWII. On my tbr: Women Heroes of World War II: 32 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue and maybe other books of the World War II collection or series also by Kathryn J. Atwood.
Written for young adults, this book does provide all readers with useful information about other related texts.
Further Reading. Atwood suggests reading
• Memiors
• Biographies
• Histories of battles
Due tothe growing awareness of women's history some of the texts, such as the memiors, are available online. Others are being reprinted at costs prohibitive to very young adults but may be later found online as more and more material out if copyright is uploaded to services such as Gutenberg.
Picture Inserts. The picture inserts inform the text.
• The rulers who guided the war sometimes not immediately understood ways.
• The pictures of the heroes being described which allows names and faces to be matched.
• The pictures of some who participated in war--nurses, cossocks, munitions workers.
so young readers can see what people looked like--nurses, cossocks, among other pics.
People dressed differently, used different technology, and worked in factories that all looked and worked differently from what we are used to today. The pictures help conceptualize the world being described in the book.
The Epilogue. The epilogue tells in a succinct and thoughtful manner what the Great War cost society and people afterward.
The Glossary. At the back of the text is a Glossary which makes even clearer what was lightly glossed within the text.
Overall this book is a great teaching and learning tool for formal amd informal learning.
Next year I hope to read about women and their role in WWII. On my tbr: Women Heroes of World War II: 32 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue and maybe other books of the World War II collection or series also by Kathryn J. Atwood.
December 6, 2014
Women Heroes of World War I is the prequel book to Women Heroes of World War II 26 Stories of Espionage Sabotage Resistance and Rescue by Kathryn J. Atwood. This time, Atwood tells 16 different stories of women involved in espionage, resistance, saving lives, and even taking lives with some women taking to the battlefield during World War I. Similarly to World War II, these women came from all different socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, and countries but each of them were fluent in wanting to defend their country.
Atwood does a wonderful job of setting the stage for World War I and explaining why the "Great War" gets far less attention than World War II. Ultimately, the "good vs evil" archetype that was clear in World War II was not so clear during World War I. The United States lack of involvement until the end of the war is also sure to be a significant factor.
An interesting fact that Atwood does a good job of pointing out in Women Heroes of World War I is the women who served their country during this war often didn't even have voting rights when they volunteered, never mind equal rights. However, they still heeded the call and their combined efforts resulted in some of the bravest actions done by anyone who's participated in war. It's also worth pointing out the number of non-combatant medical personnel that risked their lives to simply try and save lives throughout the war.
As with her last book, Atwood does a good job of explaining the roles for the women in the book in their various roles. Women served as spies, nurses, soldiers, and even journalists during the "Great War". It's great that authors like Atwood have taken the time to note their accomplishments for history, even if the "Great War" plays second fiddle to World War II as it began 100 years ago this year.
Overall, Women Heroes of World War I is a well-written look at some extremely brave and interesting women who served their various countries. Their efforts not only on the field but on the home front were crucial to the success of their countries's victories. This book would also be a fantastic asset for schools to give to younger students to teach them about not just women's role during this war but also the war itself.
Atwood does a wonderful job of setting the stage for World War I and explaining why the "Great War" gets far less attention than World War II. Ultimately, the "good vs evil" archetype that was clear in World War II was not so clear during World War I. The United States lack of involvement until the end of the war is also sure to be a significant factor.
An interesting fact that Atwood does a good job of pointing out in Women Heroes of World War I is the women who served their country during this war often didn't even have voting rights when they volunteered, never mind equal rights. However, they still heeded the call and their combined efforts resulted in some of the bravest actions done by anyone who's participated in war. It's also worth pointing out the number of non-combatant medical personnel that risked their lives to simply try and save lives throughout the war.
As with her last book, Atwood does a good job of explaining the roles for the women in the book in their various roles. Women served as spies, nurses, soldiers, and even journalists during the "Great War". It's great that authors like Atwood have taken the time to note their accomplishments for history, even if the "Great War" plays second fiddle to World War II as it began 100 years ago this year.
Overall, Women Heroes of World War I is a well-written look at some extremely brave and interesting women who served their various countries. Their efforts not only on the field but on the home front were crucial to the success of their countries's victories. This book would also be a fantastic asset for schools to give to younger students to teach them about not just women's role during this war but also the war itself.
September 6, 2014
Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters. Soldiers. Spies and Medics by Kathryn J. Atwood is a gem of women’s history. The author’s writing style is plain and straight forward but it is the content that is outstanding!
The author starts out with explaining some of the differences between WWI and WWII. WWI came to be partly because of a surge of nationalism and desire to grab territory not so much for humanitarian goals. I have read a lot about the role of women in WWII but I did not know that women poured in to fill the jobs for males as they did for WWII. These stories are real but they have an unbelievable quality to them. It is amazing to learn about women did for their countries, they were spies under very dangerous conditions and created innovations, and even fought for their country on the battlefield.
This book is divided into sections for the different roles that women played during WWI : “Resisters and Spies”, Medical Personnel”, “Soldiers” and Journalists”. All were heroes. They risked their lives repeatedly to save lives. The execution of Edith Cavell, a very brave British nurse by German firing squad led to a political storm against Germany. One of the spies in this book, transported the private messages from the captured by having them written in lemon juice on her petticoat. When she got to the other side, the information was distributed to all the relatives of the captured. Elsie Inglis, a Scottish woman surgeon, she came up with the idea of a mobile hospital unit manned by women. Olive King, a daring Australian woman bought her own truck to use as ambulance. Those are just tidbits from a few of the chapters.
At the end of each chapter, the author has listed “places to learn more”, usually books about the woman in the chapter. I am going through them to find books on my favorite women! I am recommending this book to two of my close friends so I definitely recommend this book to all women and men who want to learn more about the special ways that women were heroes in the WWI.
I received this book from the publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in my review.
The author starts out with explaining some of the differences between WWI and WWII. WWI came to be partly because of a surge of nationalism and desire to grab territory not so much for humanitarian goals. I have read a lot about the role of women in WWII but I did not know that women poured in to fill the jobs for males as they did for WWII. These stories are real but they have an unbelievable quality to them. It is amazing to learn about women did for their countries, they were spies under very dangerous conditions and created innovations, and even fought for their country on the battlefield.
This book is divided into sections for the different roles that women played during WWI : “Resisters and Spies”, Medical Personnel”, “Soldiers” and Journalists”. All were heroes. They risked their lives repeatedly to save lives. The execution of Edith Cavell, a very brave British nurse by German firing squad led to a political storm against Germany. One of the spies in this book, transported the private messages from the captured by having them written in lemon juice on her petticoat. When she got to the other side, the information was distributed to all the relatives of the captured. Elsie Inglis, a Scottish woman surgeon, she came up with the idea of a mobile hospital unit manned by women. Olive King, a daring Australian woman bought her own truck to use as ambulance. Those are just tidbits from a few of the chapters.
At the end of each chapter, the author has listed “places to learn more”, usually books about the woman in the chapter. I am going through them to find books on my favorite women! I am recommending this book to two of my close friends so I definitely recommend this book to all women and men who want to learn more about the special ways that women were heroes in the WWI.
I received this book from the publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in my review.
December 17, 2014
While this book is one of a series of biographies written for young adults, I think it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The Women in Action series is described as "a lively, accessible biography series that introduces young adults to women and girls of courage and conviction throughout the ages." The series is available for Kindle Unlimited members to read for free. Yay!
One of the best things about the book is that it includes women of very different characters. For example, it includes both Madeleine Zabriskie Doty, a peace activist, and Maria Bochkareva, a soldier who organized a group of other female soldiers in order to "shame" the flagging male Russian troops to action. The book does a good job of showing the variety of responses that women had to the war and how they felt they could and should contribute. I am looking forward to reading the WWII volume as well.
One of the best things about the book is that it includes women of very different characters. For example, it includes both Madeleine Zabriskie Doty, a peace activist, and Maria Bochkareva, a soldier who organized a group of other female soldiers in order to "shame" the flagging male Russian troops to action. The book does a good job of showing the variety of responses that women had to the war and how they felt they could and should contribute. I am looking forward to reading the WWII volume as well.
July 3, 2018
Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics is written by Kathryn J. Atwood and pays homage to sixteen women heroes that participated in the first World War as resisters, warriors, spies, journalist, and medics. This book is divided into four sections, which group these women "Resisters and Spies", "Medical Personnel", "Soldiers", and "Journalists".
Atwood has written powerful, riveting, and concise biographies of each of these sixteen women war heroes. She writes intelligently with engaging narrative, dialogue, quotes, and excerpts from diaries and documents. Atwood has also given an overview of World War I and summaries the state of the world where these women lived and breathed. She also provided a wonderful list of resources so that we can delve into these women's life in more depth.
All in all, Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics is a wonderfully written book and a magnificent collection of mini-biographies of sixteen war heroes, who happens to be women. It is a good read and reference book for anyone who wants to learn more about women in history.
Atwood has written powerful, riveting, and concise biographies of each of these sixteen women war heroes. She writes intelligently with engaging narrative, dialogue, quotes, and excerpts from diaries and documents. Atwood has also given an overview of World War I and summaries the state of the world where these women lived and breathed. She also provided a wonderful list of resources so that we can delve into these women's life in more depth.
All in all, Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics is a wonderfully written book and a magnificent collection of mini-biographies of sixteen war heroes, who happens to be women. It is a good read and reference book for anyone who wants to learn more about women in history.
May 7, 2015
Before Rosie the Riveter and even prior to women getting the right to vote, at a time of war women had to push the limits. Society demanded that they marry and raise children, but when the world was thrust into the Great War, they were able to show all that they were capable of doing. When we think of women becoming involved in espionage, spy rings and resistance, the images of WWII and Nazi occupations come to mind. However, WWI was wrought with as much turmoil and women’s efforts then have been largely forgotten. Acquaint yourself with that tumultuous era through “Women Heroes of World War I: Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies and Medics.” You’ll be amazed by what you find.
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by author Kathryn J. Atwood and offered a free copy of her first book (Women Heroes of WWII) and in return I would do a book review of it on my blog. Then she asked if I would also do a review on her latest work, “Women Heroes of World War I: Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies and Medics.” I had some prior knowledge of WWI, although my interest mainly lies with WWII and the Holocaust. The cause of WWI stemmed from various conditions going on in Europe, mostly to do with nationalism. Unlike WWII, there was no definitive good and bad side. After four years of continual fighting, the war came to an end in 1918 and though the Allies were the victors, much of the world was still in chaos. The war spawned revolutions, economical failures and twenty years later a second world war.
During the war, on all sides, while men fought, the women stepped up and not only took on more masculine occupations, they took an active part in the war itself. From rescuing downed pilots, to spying, to nursing, women were determined to prove themselves. Of all the accounts included in this book, I think it was Edith Cavell’s story that resonated with me the most. While I was happy to see the Romanovs, Russia’s royal family, and their contributions were mentioned as well. Though a genuinely good family, they were poor rulers; however they were actively involved in the war effort. The Tsarina and her daughters nursed wounded soldiers. What surprised me was how many Russian women fought alongside the men. It was estimated that at least 1000 women fought.
I love “Women Heroes of World War I: Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies and Medics,” and may have learned more from it than I did Atwood’s previous book. It is perfect for teens, or anyone really, looking for an introduction to WWI history. Well, and women’s history too.
Thank you, Kathryn Atwood for sending this book to me!
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by author Kathryn J. Atwood and offered a free copy of her first book (Women Heroes of WWII) and in return I would do a book review of it on my blog. Then she asked if I would also do a review on her latest work, “Women Heroes of World War I: Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies and Medics.” I had some prior knowledge of WWI, although my interest mainly lies with WWII and the Holocaust. The cause of WWI stemmed from various conditions going on in Europe, mostly to do with nationalism. Unlike WWII, there was no definitive good and bad side. After four years of continual fighting, the war came to an end in 1918 and though the Allies were the victors, much of the world was still in chaos. The war spawned revolutions, economical failures and twenty years later a second world war.
During the war, on all sides, while men fought, the women stepped up and not only took on more masculine occupations, they took an active part in the war itself. From rescuing downed pilots, to spying, to nursing, women were determined to prove themselves. Of all the accounts included in this book, I think it was Edith Cavell’s story that resonated with me the most. While I was happy to see the Romanovs, Russia’s royal family, and their contributions were mentioned as well. Though a genuinely good family, they were poor rulers; however they were actively involved in the war effort. The Tsarina and her daughters nursed wounded soldiers. What surprised me was how many Russian women fought alongside the men. It was estimated that at least 1000 women fought.
I love “Women Heroes of World War I: Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies and Medics,” and may have learned more from it than I did Atwood’s previous book. It is perfect for teens, or anyone really, looking for an introduction to WWI history. Well, and women’s history too.
Thank you, Kathryn Atwood for sending this book to me!
August 9, 2014
A 10,000 foot mountain in the Canadian Rockies is named for one Edith Cavell, (“a British nurse executed during World War I for her part in helping Allied prisoners escape occupied Brussels,” says Parks Canada). Thanks to a great new book, armchair travelers and adventurers alike can meet Cavell and more intrepid women -- Americans, British, French, Belgian, and Scottish -- who made their mark one hundred years ago.
Kathryn Atwood’s Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics, offers a prime example of the growing crossover between teen and adult nonfiction, proving that YA isn’t for kids.
Atwood’s fresh approach to the Great War unfolds in scenarios that span borders, battles, and battalions, writing about women who found themselves entangled in a variety of scenarios across Europe as nurses, spies, infantry, journalists, ambulance drivers and more. Her research is thorough; her writing, both engaging and informative. Photos and illustrations -- handpicked by the author -- add depth and perspective to the narrative.
For curious readers who want to learn more (and who wouldn't?), Women Heroes offers suggested sources at the end of each profile. I know I’ll be finding my way to many of them.
Kathryn Atwood’s Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics, offers a prime example of the growing crossover between teen and adult nonfiction, proving that YA isn’t for kids.
Atwood’s fresh approach to the Great War unfolds in scenarios that span borders, battles, and battalions, writing about women who found themselves entangled in a variety of scenarios across Europe as nurses, spies, infantry, journalists, ambulance drivers and more. Her research is thorough; her writing, both engaging and informative. Photos and illustrations -- handpicked by the author -- add depth and perspective to the narrative.
For curious readers who want to learn more (and who wouldn't?), Women Heroes offers suggested sources at the end of each profile. I know I’ll be finding my way to many of them.
May 16, 2016
Woman Heroes Of World War I
(Katherine J Atwood)
16 snapshots of courageous woman who served their countries in World War I.
Aside from being a very interesting read, the author is to be commended for acknowledgements, glossary, notes, photos, extensive bibliography and well formed index.
The book jacket says it best.
"These and other suspense filled stories of daring girls and women from around the world are told through fast paced narrative, dialogue, direct quotes and document and diary excerpts.
Historical background information opens each section, and each profile includes informative sidebars and Learn More lists of books and websites for further study."
4.5 ★
(Katherine J Atwood)
16 snapshots of courageous woman who served their countries in World War I.
Aside from being a very interesting read, the author is to be commended for acknowledgements, glossary, notes, photos, extensive bibliography and well formed index.
The book jacket says it best.
"These and other suspense filled stories of daring girls and women from around the world are told through fast paced narrative, dialogue, direct quotes and document and diary excerpts.
Historical background information opens each section, and each profile includes informative sidebars and Learn More lists of books and websites for further study."
4.5 ★
March 27, 2016
I really enjoyed this focus on 16 heroes of WWI, that they are women is fascinating as the role of women in the early 20th century was very different to the one we have now. The spotlight falls on each woman individually, with interesting detail, images, and signposting for further reading.
A well written, informative and fascinating book. If you are interested at all in how women demonstrated free will in a society where they were essentially second class citizens, please read on!
A well written, informative and fascinating book. If you are interested at all in how women demonstrated free will in a society where they were essentially second class citizens, please read on!
October 17, 2015
Some very interesting stories here. This book was intended for young people and the writing reflected that. I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the writing style hadn't been so simplistic. Nonetheless, the stories were fascinating. I especially enjoyed reading about Mary Roberts Rinehart, whom i'd known only as a mystery writer.
September 24, 2014
An action-packed book teaching about largely forgotten (but no longer thanks to this book) women and their courageous efforts to help the war effort of their mother country. (This review was written by my 11 year-old son)
May 13, 2019
I started reading this book because I wanted to know more about Edith Cavell and Louise de Bettignies. I learned about them and so many other brave woman who played a part in the war and may have been forgotten. I am looking forward to reading another book by this author.
April 27, 2018
@kidlitexchange #partner – We need more stories like these, capturing the female heroes who have played important roles throughout history.
Atwood’s series of wonderful works highlight the experiences and importance of women in some of the most horrific and trying times we’ve faced, not just as a nation, but globally. While the history buff may not find the stories unique or novel and may find the lack of comprehensive detail a bit frustrating, it is a superior example of how to get young readers passionate about history – and teach them some really great stories along the way! I particularly appreciate the diversity of the stories and the women themselves.
In addition to the individual stories of these intriguing women, accompanied by interesting photos, Atwood also provides a brief introduction to the historical background. These short sections ensure those just learning about the particular time period (in this case, the World War I) have the necessary basics to appreciate the nuances of the stories told.
Often, Atwood uses direct quotes from the women in the book, from journal and diary entries to letters and interviews. These add a lovely personal element to the narrative as well. Overall, the formatting and writing style is quite strong if not a bit direct. There is no need for literary flourish; these stories stand on their own.
Overall, these are wonderful young adult and perhaps even middle grade introductions to vital historical periods worth studying. I would recommend for a history buff looking for a light read or any young(ish) reader looking to broaden their historical horizons!
Thank you to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are own.
Atwood’s series of wonderful works highlight the experiences and importance of women in some of the most horrific and trying times we’ve faced, not just as a nation, but globally. While the history buff may not find the stories unique or novel and may find the lack of comprehensive detail a bit frustrating, it is a superior example of how to get young readers passionate about history – and teach them some really great stories along the way! I particularly appreciate the diversity of the stories and the women themselves.
In addition to the individual stories of these intriguing women, accompanied by interesting photos, Atwood also provides a brief introduction to the historical background. These short sections ensure those just learning about the particular time period (in this case, the World War I) have the necessary basics to appreciate the nuances of the stories told.
Often, Atwood uses direct quotes from the women in the book, from journal and diary entries to letters and interviews. These add a lovely personal element to the narrative as well. Overall, the formatting and writing style is quite strong if not a bit direct. There is no need for literary flourish; these stories stand on their own.
Overall, these are wonderful young adult and perhaps even middle grade introductions to vital historical periods worth studying. I would recommend for a history buff looking for a light read or any young(ish) reader looking to broaden their historical horizons!
Thank you to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are own.
July 2, 2014
In 2011, American author, Kathryn Atwood, wrote a book entitled Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue. Now, comes a prequel to that title, Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics.
When one thinks of the Great War, invariably the first images to spring to mind are, understandably, that of soldiers in the trenches, men with shellshocked eyes carrying their wounded comrades, soldiers with gas masks. Women, with the exception of nurses, rarely feature among the iconic images of the war. Atwood, in her finely-crafted book, attempts to redress the balance.
Kathryn Atwood’s book, although aimed primarily at the 'Young Adult' market, is a fine read for all. Her introduction provides a brief overview on how the war started and the changing role of women as the conflict progressed. The book is then divided up into sections where we are told the stories of some incredibly brave women. We have a section on nurses, resistance and espionage, women soldiers and journalists. Some, like Edith Cavell, are still remembered but most have been forgotten, partly, says Atwood, because their stories have been eclipsed by the very women they helped inspire during the Second World War.
The stories are indeed remarkable. We have, for example, Louise Thuliez, whose resistance work in Belgium was discovered by the Germans and stood trial alongside Cavell. Following the war, she was decorated by French president, Georges Clemenceau. We have Emilienne Moreau who, just 16-years-old, single-handedly managed to warn a company of Scottish soldiers that they were walking straight into a German ambush. Days later, she shot dead two Germans with a revolver. Incredibly, a quarter of a century later, following the fall of France in June 1940, Emilienne resumed her resistance work.
We meet Marthe Cnockaert who was awarded the German Iron Cross for her work tending German wounded in a Belgian hospital. Yet many of those she tended had been wounded as a direct result of intelligence she had supplied to the British, who, using her information, had bombed a German stronghold. She was later found out, arrested and tried. Facing the death penalty, two German officers testified on her behalf and her sentence was commuted to imprisonment. Such is war.
Atwood relates the astonishing tale of Maria Bochkareva, a 25-year-old Russian. Having been prohibited from bearing arms, she wrote to Tsar Nicholas pleading her desire to fight for the motherland, and was duly accepted into the army. She soon overcame the innate discrimination of her male colleagues by her acts of courage under fire and her incredible marksmanship. Following the tsar's downfall, and as Russian soldiers deserted en mass, Maria formed the 'Women's Battalion of Death', formed specifically to shame the menfolk in continuing the fight. She had her girls shave their heads, and taught them to smoke and swear like men, and fight to the death. The Bolsheviks, who saw her as an apologist for the tsarist regime, had her executed in 1920.
The theme that runs throughout the book, and one that is common to all sixteen of these heroines, is the fight for acceptance. Civil and military authorities, in all countries, deemed war man's work. Undeterred, these women fought on - against the enemy and against the conventions of the time, slowly dismantling the edifices of what the establishment considered the role of women to be. They were driven by patriotism, hatred of the enemy and the desire to help. Yet they were also driven, in most cases, by the sense of adventure, a new and real meaning to their lives, and an opportunity to break out of the constrictions of societal expectations. Belgian, Gabrielle Petit, wrote of her resistance work that at no time had she 'been happier'. Tried by the Germans, she said to them, 'I do not fear you. You can kill me; I will only be replaced'. Petit, like Edith Cavell, was executed by the Germans, aged 23, on 1 April 1916.
The historian A J P Taylor wrote in 1963 that the First World War had done more for the advancement of women than the pre-war woman suffragette movement. Indeed, in Great Britain, women aged 30 and over, and with certain qualifications, were first allowed to vote in 1918, and Britain returned its first female Member of Parliament, Nancy Astor, in December 1919.
In September 1918, US president, Woodrow Wilson, said 'We have made partners of the women in this war'. Atwood writes that governments everywhere recognised that it was 'time to treat women as citizens'.
The book is populated with quotations and plenty of lovely photographs, as seen on its colouful and appealing cover. Each chapter finishes with suggestions for further reading; there is a glossary, a fulsome bibliography and an index.
Atwood writes with great respect and admiration for her subjects but manages throughout to avoid sentimentalising them. She understands her women well enough to avoid such an obvious trap. Her grasp of the First World War provides each tale its wider context but, at the same time, she manages not to swamp the reader with too much detail. We are left in awe of what these women did, and wondering what we would have done in their circumstances.
Total war is much more than simply the actions, however important, of the brave. Yet even the deeds of the heroic are lost in the pages of history, and it is thanks to authors such as Kathryn Atwood that we can acknowledge their selflessness, their courage and, sadly, in too many cases, their ultimate sacrifice.
When one thinks of the Great War, invariably the first images to spring to mind are, understandably, that of soldiers in the trenches, men with shellshocked eyes carrying their wounded comrades, soldiers with gas masks. Women, with the exception of nurses, rarely feature among the iconic images of the war. Atwood, in her finely-crafted book, attempts to redress the balance.
Kathryn Atwood’s book, although aimed primarily at the 'Young Adult' market, is a fine read for all. Her introduction provides a brief overview on how the war started and the changing role of women as the conflict progressed. The book is then divided up into sections where we are told the stories of some incredibly brave women. We have a section on nurses, resistance and espionage, women soldiers and journalists. Some, like Edith Cavell, are still remembered but most have been forgotten, partly, says Atwood, because their stories have been eclipsed by the very women they helped inspire during the Second World War.
The stories are indeed remarkable. We have, for example, Louise Thuliez, whose resistance work in Belgium was discovered by the Germans and stood trial alongside Cavell. Following the war, she was decorated by French president, Georges Clemenceau. We have Emilienne Moreau who, just 16-years-old, single-handedly managed to warn a company of Scottish soldiers that they were walking straight into a German ambush. Days later, she shot dead two Germans with a revolver. Incredibly, a quarter of a century later, following the fall of France in June 1940, Emilienne resumed her resistance work.
We meet Marthe Cnockaert who was awarded the German Iron Cross for her work tending German wounded in a Belgian hospital. Yet many of those she tended had been wounded as a direct result of intelligence she had supplied to the British, who, using her information, had bombed a German stronghold. She was later found out, arrested and tried. Facing the death penalty, two German officers testified on her behalf and her sentence was commuted to imprisonment. Such is war.
Atwood relates the astonishing tale of Maria Bochkareva, a 25-year-old Russian. Having been prohibited from bearing arms, she wrote to Tsar Nicholas pleading her desire to fight for the motherland, and was duly accepted into the army. She soon overcame the innate discrimination of her male colleagues by her acts of courage under fire and her incredible marksmanship. Following the tsar's downfall, and as Russian soldiers deserted en mass, Maria formed the 'Women's Battalion of Death', formed specifically to shame the menfolk in continuing the fight. She had her girls shave their heads, and taught them to smoke and swear like men, and fight to the death. The Bolsheviks, who saw her as an apologist for the tsarist regime, had her executed in 1920.
The theme that runs throughout the book, and one that is common to all sixteen of these heroines, is the fight for acceptance. Civil and military authorities, in all countries, deemed war man's work. Undeterred, these women fought on - against the enemy and against the conventions of the time, slowly dismantling the edifices of what the establishment considered the role of women to be. They were driven by patriotism, hatred of the enemy and the desire to help. Yet they were also driven, in most cases, by the sense of adventure, a new and real meaning to their lives, and an opportunity to break out of the constrictions of societal expectations. Belgian, Gabrielle Petit, wrote of her resistance work that at no time had she 'been happier'. Tried by the Germans, she said to them, 'I do not fear you. You can kill me; I will only be replaced'. Petit, like Edith Cavell, was executed by the Germans, aged 23, on 1 April 1916.
The historian A J P Taylor wrote in 1963 that the First World War had done more for the advancement of women than the pre-war woman suffragette movement. Indeed, in Great Britain, women aged 30 and over, and with certain qualifications, were first allowed to vote in 1918, and Britain returned its first female Member of Parliament, Nancy Astor, in December 1919.
In September 1918, US president, Woodrow Wilson, said 'We have made partners of the women in this war'. Atwood writes that governments everywhere recognised that it was 'time to treat women as citizens'.
The book is populated with quotations and plenty of lovely photographs, as seen on its colouful and appealing cover. Each chapter finishes with suggestions for further reading; there is a glossary, a fulsome bibliography and an index.
Atwood writes with great respect and admiration for her subjects but manages throughout to avoid sentimentalising them. She understands her women well enough to avoid such an obvious trap. Her grasp of the First World War provides each tale its wider context but, at the same time, she manages not to swamp the reader with too much detail. We are left in awe of what these women did, and wondering what we would have done in their circumstances.
Total war is much more than simply the actions, however important, of the brave. Yet even the deeds of the heroic are lost in the pages of history, and it is thanks to authors such as Kathryn Atwood that we can acknowledge their selflessness, their courage and, sadly, in too many cases, their ultimate sacrifice.
March 29, 2017
Most of the time when I read about war, I tend to read fictional accounts of WWII. But, sadly, war is war and no matter what timeframe you are reading about there will be horrific details and stories of heroic people who risked their lives to help others. Atwood's research shows that women were definitely prominent in saving the lives of numerous people during war-time and not just in a hospital or in the home. Numerous women took on the role of spies and resisters helping to hide soldiers or to move information across enemy lines to leak details of plans like to blow up the British tunnel. I think most people would be quite surprised at the level of danger many of these women put themselves in, much like their husbands, brothers, and fathers.
Atwood covers each woman in a chapter consisting of just a few pages, telling the story of how she got involved in the war, her heroic deeds, and what happened to her after the war. Sadly, many of the women were arrested and sentenced to life in prison or to death. In fact, due to one of the women featured in the book, Edith Cavell, death sentences for women were no longer ordered. Her execution was remembered as one of inspiration for women because Cavell took her duties seriously and faced death with a "calm dignity". Stories like this were tragic but also proved that women, much like men, were willing to fight for their freedoms.
This book sat on my shelf too long and I am so glad that I finally read it. It is definitely an inspiring look at history and the role women played in unexpected areas. Many of them could be an inspiration for a fictional novel based on the war. Since each chapter stands alone, it is a great book to keep in the car and read while waiting in the pick-up line at school or at the doctor's office.
This book like her others about women heroes are written for middle school readers on up. Even though they are considered a young adult series, adults will appreciate the history and facts as well.
Atwood covers each woman in a chapter consisting of just a few pages, telling the story of how she got involved in the war, her heroic deeds, and what happened to her after the war. Sadly, many of the women were arrested and sentenced to life in prison or to death. In fact, due to one of the women featured in the book, Edith Cavell, death sentences for women were no longer ordered. Her execution was remembered as one of inspiration for women because Cavell took her duties seriously and faced death with a "calm dignity". Stories like this were tragic but also proved that women, much like men, were willing to fight for their freedoms.
This book sat on my shelf too long and I am so glad that I finally read it. It is definitely an inspiring look at history and the role women played in unexpected areas. Many of them could be an inspiration for a fictional novel based on the war. Since each chapter stands alone, it is a great book to keep in the car and read while waiting in the pick-up line at school or at the doctor's office.
This book like her others about women heroes are written for middle school readers on up. Even though they are considered a young adult series, adults will appreciate the history and facts as well.
March 18, 2024
This is a terrific read.
These women had pluck.
These women had pluck.
April 8, 2019
This book of short biographies of women who served during World War 1 was both informative and enjoyable. Readable and easy to follow - one of those gems that I love to come across. I may have to look for some of Ms. Atwood's other books.
May 31, 2017
This book would be appropriate for the middle school level. Unfortunately because of the overwhelmingly heinous and evil nature of WW2 many heroic and courageous things that happened in WW1 get forgotten. I had heard of Edith Cavell and that was the only one. Interesting stories of women stepping up and showing what they were made of in the time of suffragettes and war. These women were no doubt heroes of their time, and should be remembered today.
August 5, 2014
This highly readable and informative book is categorized as young adult nonfiction/history and it's good reading for older adults, too.
It's the kind of book I wish had been around when I was a girl growing up on movies like The Sands of Iwo Jima, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and The Great Escape. I was fascinated by war and wanted to see women portrayed in the thick of things. Unfortunately, back then (and, sadly, still now) women's contributions to the war effort were lucky to get more than a sentence: women worked in factories, nursed the wounded, and knitted socks for the soldiers.
As a girl who sought adventure it was frustrating and embarrassing not to see examples of women who had done heroic things in history books. Even as a young Marine and then college/graduate student it was a challenge to find books and primary sources about women who contributed to the war effort beyond working in factories or nursing the wounded (often times the images presented were of clean, orderly factories and hospitals far away from danger). If a history book mentioned that women were allowed to join the military during WWI, they got a sentence and maybe a group picture with a caption that stated women joined to "free a man to fight."
As an adult I understand the importance of factory work for the war effort as well as for the advancement of women's rights. I've read about the gruesome duty and long hours nurses worked. And if the woman who joined the military in WWI mainly did paperwork they are not to be dismissed because, as anyone whose been in the military knows, accurate and timely paperwork is sometimes just as important as water and food.
But I'd wager that no one, not even women in 1914, wants to join the military to do paperwork. Women, like men, have always wanted to do something to help when the chips are down (for altruistic reasons and/or to escape their lives) and this book shows that they did, whether officially in the military or with some other organization or by taking matters into their own hands.
Women Heroes of World War I definitely helps round out the picture of what women are capable of doing during wartime and what 16 brave women did during World War I.
The book is divided into four sections:
Part I: Resisters and Spies
Edith Cavell
Louise Thuliez
Emilienne Moreau
Gabrielle Petit
Marthe Cnockaert
Louise de Bettignies
Part II: Medical Personnel
Elsie Inglis
Olive King
Helena Gleichen
Shirley Millard
Part III: Soldiers
Maria Bochkareva
Flora Sandes
Marina Yurlova
Ecaterina Teodoroiu
Part IV: Journalists
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Madeleine Zabriskie Doty
There are photographs scattered throughout the book, quotes, and mini articles in text boxes that give a bit of background on things such as poisoned gas, weapons & wounds, Greece's neutrality and side-switching, Marie Curie & Radiography, Rosa Luxemburg, the influenza pandemic of 1918, the Russian Revolution, and more.
There's an introduction to each Part which provides context and each chapter focusing on one women begins with her picture, a quote, and ends with a "Learn More" text box that includes books and occasionally websites about the subject. There's a seven page bibliography would have made me weep tears of joy as a teenager. Entries with an asterisk point out books suitable for younger readers. A three page glossary explains some general concepts (e.g. artillery, shrapnel), historical events (e.g. Franco-Prussian War, Triple Entente), and people (e.g. Kaiser Wilhelm, Tsar Nicholas II). There is no filler or fluff in this book.
Taken as a whole, the features of the book provide context and background about the war and women's lives leading up to, during, and after WWI. It covers the Western, Eastern, and Italian fronts, and conditions for civilians within Germany.
Women Heroes of World War I would be an excellent addition to both school and public libraries and appropriate for both readers new to WWI and those who've already read much about the subject, whether YA or plain old adult readers.
This book is part of the Women of Action Series from Chicago Review Press. Atwood has two previous titles in the series, Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent, Pearl Witherington Cornioley and Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue.
It's the kind of book I wish had been around when I was a girl growing up on movies like The Sands of Iwo Jima, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and The Great Escape. I was fascinated by war and wanted to see women portrayed in the thick of things. Unfortunately, back then (and, sadly, still now) women's contributions to the war effort were lucky to get more than a sentence: women worked in factories, nursed the wounded, and knitted socks for the soldiers.
As a girl who sought adventure it was frustrating and embarrassing not to see examples of women who had done heroic things in history books. Even as a young Marine and then college/graduate student it was a challenge to find books and primary sources about women who contributed to the war effort beyond working in factories or nursing the wounded (often times the images presented were of clean, orderly factories and hospitals far away from danger). If a history book mentioned that women were allowed to join the military during WWI, they got a sentence and maybe a group picture with a caption that stated women joined to "free a man to fight."
As an adult I understand the importance of factory work for the war effort as well as for the advancement of women's rights. I've read about the gruesome duty and long hours nurses worked. And if the woman who joined the military in WWI mainly did paperwork they are not to be dismissed because, as anyone whose been in the military knows, accurate and timely paperwork is sometimes just as important as water and food.
But I'd wager that no one, not even women in 1914, wants to join the military to do paperwork. Women, like men, have always wanted to do something to help when the chips are down (for altruistic reasons and/or to escape their lives) and this book shows that they did, whether officially in the military or with some other organization or by taking matters into their own hands.
Women Heroes of World War I definitely helps round out the picture of what women are capable of doing during wartime and what 16 brave women did during World War I.
The book is divided into four sections:
Part I: Resisters and Spies
Edith Cavell
Louise Thuliez
Emilienne Moreau
Gabrielle Petit
Marthe Cnockaert
Louise de Bettignies
Part II: Medical Personnel
Elsie Inglis
Olive King
Helena Gleichen
Shirley Millard
Part III: Soldiers
Maria Bochkareva
Flora Sandes
Marina Yurlova
Ecaterina Teodoroiu
Part IV: Journalists
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Madeleine Zabriskie Doty
There are photographs scattered throughout the book, quotes, and mini articles in text boxes that give a bit of background on things such as poisoned gas, weapons & wounds, Greece's neutrality and side-switching, Marie Curie & Radiography, Rosa Luxemburg, the influenza pandemic of 1918, the Russian Revolution, and more.
There's an introduction to each Part which provides context and each chapter focusing on one women begins with her picture, a quote, and ends with a "Learn More" text box that includes books and occasionally websites about the subject. There's a seven page bibliography would have made me weep tears of joy as a teenager. Entries with an asterisk point out books suitable for younger readers. A three page glossary explains some general concepts (e.g. artillery, shrapnel), historical events (e.g. Franco-Prussian War, Triple Entente), and people (e.g. Kaiser Wilhelm, Tsar Nicholas II). There is no filler or fluff in this book.
Taken as a whole, the features of the book provide context and background about the war and women's lives leading up to, during, and after WWI. It covers the Western, Eastern, and Italian fronts, and conditions for civilians within Germany.
Women Heroes of World War I would be an excellent addition to both school and public libraries and appropriate for both readers new to WWI and those who've already read much about the subject, whether YA or plain old adult readers.
This book is part of the Women of Action Series from Chicago Review Press. Atwood has two previous titles in the series, Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent, Pearl Witherington Cornioley and Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue.
June 19, 2014
The stereotypical image of the combatants in World War I is of bedraggled and weary men fighting for their very existence in muddy, rat-infested trenches dug deep into the ground of a besieged and war-torn France. However, that the War went far beyond that country, and was most definitely not the sole domain of men, is clearly shown in Kathryn J. Atwood’s Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics. Having already proved her mettle as far as writing about the role that women played in World War II goes, in her authorship of Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue and in her editorship of Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent (both also, as is the present volume, part of the Women of Action series), the redirecting of Atwood’s attention to the Great War in the present volume serves to confirm her overall understanding of not only how devastating conflict can be, in terms of the effects that it has on the life of combatants and non-combatants alike, but also how it provides an arena for bringing out the very best in those who feel inspired or compelled to take part in it.
By focusing on the contribution made to the war effort by the sixteen outstanding women whose tales she here tells, Atwood is able to show, in some detail, how they were able to use the strengths of their gender as a cause célèbre to enhance and complement the work done by those who have traditionally been seen as the major protagonists in military struggle, namely men. The caring capacity of women, although most clearly revealed in the medical profession, is also explored in the section on resisters and spies. The bravery and allegiance of the teenager, Emilienne Moreau, who became a national symbol of hope for the French during a time when they had otherwise become disheartened by their severe losses at the Front, is echoed in more mature and full-bodied terms in the life of Louise Thuliez (who gave, as her motive for becoming involved with helping the Allied cause, “[b]ecause I am a Frenchwoman”), and in that of the fiercely defiant Gabrielle Petit.
The impact made by the death of Edith Cavell at the hands of a firing squad is shown as a key element of propaganda that was used against the Central Powers for the rest of the war. Atwood’s logical arranging of the chapters of her book shows the considerable amount of forethought that she has put into this work. By heading Women Heroes of World War I with a description of Cavell’s involvement in the war, Atwood is able to refer back to the heroic stance that she adopted, even at her own execution, in later chapters. An instance of this is the fruitless attempt that was made by the Germans to get Elsie Inglis, founder of field hospitals run entirely by women, to sign a declaration condoning their treatment of her in captivity, which they could have used to reflect their humanitarianism, and to deflate the outrage felt by the rest of the world on Cavell’s death.
The heroic role played by the Russian women who voluntarily enlisted in the Women’s Battalion of Death, headed up by Maria Bochkareva, in raising the morale of those who fought on the Eastern Front is counterpoised against the role of the intrepid intelligence organizer extraordinaire, Louise de Bettignies, who inscribed her petticoats with messages written in lemon juice, a cheap form of invisible ink, so that she could move through enemy lines unscathed. No matter to which country or cause the women described in Women Heroes of World War I committed their energetic endeavours, they are all shown as having maximized the resources at their disposal, whether of a more feminine nature, or through temporary suppression of their gender in support of what they saw as a far more urgent cause.
In short, Atwood’s book is a reflection of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, and deserves its place on the bookshelf of anyone who is truly interested in the history not only of World War I, but also of womankind itself.
By focusing on the contribution made to the war effort by the sixteen outstanding women whose tales she here tells, Atwood is able to show, in some detail, how they were able to use the strengths of their gender as a cause célèbre to enhance and complement the work done by those who have traditionally been seen as the major protagonists in military struggle, namely men. The caring capacity of women, although most clearly revealed in the medical profession, is also explored in the section on resisters and spies. The bravery and allegiance of the teenager, Emilienne Moreau, who became a national symbol of hope for the French during a time when they had otherwise become disheartened by their severe losses at the Front, is echoed in more mature and full-bodied terms in the life of Louise Thuliez (who gave, as her motive for becoming involved with helping the Allied cause, “[b]ecause I am a Frenchwoman”), and in that of the fiercely defiant Gabrielle Petit.
The impact made by the death of Edith Cavell at the hands of a firing squad is shown as a key element of propaganda that was used against the Central Powers for the rest of the war. Atwood’s logical arranging of the chapters of her book shows the considerable amount of forethought that she has put into this work. By heading Women Heroes of World War I with a description of Cavell’s involvement in the war, Atwood is able to refer back to the heroic stance that she adopted, even at her own execution, in later chapters. An instance of this is the fruitless attempt that was made by the Germans to get Elsie Inglis, founder of field hospitals run entirely by women, to sign a declaration condoning their treatment of her in captivity, which they could have used to reflect their humanitarianism, and to deflate the outrage felt by the rest of the world on Cavell’s death.
The heroic role played by the Russian women who voluntarily enlisted in the Women’s Battalion of Death, headed up by Maria Bochkareva, in raising the morale of those who fought on the Eastern Front is counterpoised against the role of the intrepid intelligence organizer extraordinaire, Louise de Bettignies, who inscribed her petticoats with messages written in lemon juice, a cheap form of invisible ink, so that she could move through enemy lines unscathed. No matter to which country or cause the women described in Women Heroes of World War I committed their energetic endeavours, they are all shown as having maximized the resources at their disposal, whether of a more feminine nature, or through temporary suppression of their gender in support of what they saw as a far more urgent cause.
In short, Atwood’s book is a reflection of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, and deserves its place on the bookshelf of anyone who is truly interested in the history not only of World War I, but also of womankind itself.
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