Marooned in Moscow: An American Woman Imprisoned in Soviet Russia

by Marguerite Harrison, William Benton Whisenhunt (Editor)

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

Genres: Memoir, Russia

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 2010

About the author

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

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

I'll write more once I'm done.

I'm done:

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

[Gisela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curiosity... and the cat. If anyone can testify to, 'paying their money and taking a chance' it's Marguerite.

I'm completely taken by the woman. The word, 'Resilient', don't even come close. This is a lesson in how to make the best from a bad situation. I'd say, 'there's not much life could throw at Marguerite that would get her down.'

A great book.

[Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Harrison deserves a place at the high table of European history for her courage alone. That she was also able to show kindness and provide aid to others shows her to be a remarkable woman.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is enough written of this:

I thought it an incredible read and admire the woman for her spirit and her desire to get to the front line.

[Mircea Petcu · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

A terrific read.

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

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

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read. It is quite amazing to think of all of these personalities being in Russia at the same time. From reading of Paul Dukes, George Hill, Sydney Reilly and Robert Bruce Lockhart I quite sure of how fraught with danger being an agent of the West was. Ms. Harrison was no fool and became embroiled in deceiving the authorities before even entering the country. I must wonder what it was that drove these people. I think in Ms. Harrison's case it was curiosity.
I do enjoy reading of women who can hold their own.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Natali Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

An utterly captivating account of Marguerite's time in Russia post the revolution. From one side, she may be seen as determined and courageous, yet from the other seen as reckless. I praise her for her courage, her compassion and her selfless determination.

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon her return to the West, I wonder if Ms Harrison was ever spoken to by a psychiatrist: probably not considered back in those times.
If a woman did what was done by Ms Harrison today. I think the psychiatrists would be lined up to interview her: the consensus opinion I suggest would be the woman is mad as a hatter.

She was a remarkable woman: I'm still finding hard to accept she would willing put herself at such risk.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A totally absorbing read. I'm so glad I found this. An amazing woman and although I know little of those times, the dangers she faced must have been monumental. I took from this, she was a woman of great intellect, common sense and self-confidence. Even so, she spent long periods of time on thin ice.

[Cosmin]

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

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thrilling read. Whilst in Russia, Ms Harrison lived close to the edge.

[Poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

[Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm taken with the self-confidence, courage and wit of Marguerite. During those times women struggled far more than they do today (they do still, I know). The presence of Marguerite must have been phenomenal. This is a fantastic read.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thrilling account of the lady's time in Russia. Her endeavours were not as covert as that of the British agents I've read of recently, but all the same she was doing her bit to get information out. A wonderful woman who tried to help where she could.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific read. I'm thinking it's all true. The girl got pluck!!!!

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last night I was looking through photographs of my great-grandmother, who before the first war was a girl from money who spent her days whizzing about the country on a motorbike. She fought off the pressure from her parents to take a back seat and became a dispatch rider in France. Nowadays they are often seen/referred to as cool-girls. Back then she was called a rebel and a danger to womankind. It was reading this that got me talking with my mother about great-granny and her exploits.

Girl (Marguerite) were you mad!

Marguerite can of course justify her adventures and I am the last person to suggest a woman is less able than a man, but we're talking about life more than a hundred years ago.

I do admire her and I would recommend this to all the 'cool-girls' out there who might be thinking of a little adventuring. I do now wonder if women alone were safer back then than they are nowadays.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Anchali · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

She was brave, resourceful generous and kind.

I very much enjoyed the book.

[Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Harrison is one of the 'few and far between'. If circumstances had forced into the chaos, I'd have still found her account captivating. She literally walked into the chaos with her eyes wide open.

She was a journey feeding info back to the West: the use of the word 'spy' is probably not as true as it sounds. She was imprisoned: using the word 'caught' is again stretching it. As I said, she was not caught up in the chaos, she put every effort she had to hand to be part of the chaos. I applaud her but,.....

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lady, in her own words, crossed into post-revolutionary Russia in order to find out for herself what was really going on. I think it important to take a few moments and think of the risks to a lone female travelling within a mostly ungoverned, volatile arena, during that time: she even wangled the visa that got her over the border. If someone had twigged that.... ?

This is an amazing read.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this... I'm looking with a more inquisitive eye at our recent past. And here's a girl, a girl with a huge amount of pluck, wandering around ALONE in a dangerous and largely unaccountable theatre of turmoil.

It is incredible, I'm sure it's all true, how she managed to ingratiate, 'infiltrate', herself with the populace and provide a much needed service to the West.

Exciting.

[Zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Harrison goes to Moscow. She did make her own bed and she was made to lie in it. All I can do is heap praise on the woman; she never bent, backed down or gave in. A wonderful account and I am so glad I read this.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is terrific:

She was not a spy, she was a journalist. Incredibly clever, strong-minded, courageous and resourceful.

A girl able to stand tall in a man's world and unafraid of doing so.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing story. Marguerite had some courage to stray into that world with nothing more than a passport and a sharp mind.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaw-Dropping:

This woman's account of her foray into Russia is both informative and breath taking.