Women on the Frontlines: Convergence of Fact and Fiction in Martha Gellhorn’s Works

Martha Gellhorn’s extraordinary career as a reporter took her to the front lines of nearly every major international conflict, right from the Spanish Civil War to the conclusion of the Cold War; her combat reports are among the best of the century. Through her correspondence, we get to know the woman behind the frequently enigmatic journalist, Gellhorn, as she chronicles her turbulent marriage to Ernest Hemingway and her friendships with notable figures from the 20th century. Over four decades and numerous locales, including the highlands of East Africa, elegant dinner parties in London, and Depression-era America, Martha Gellhorn’s novellas exhibit the same traits that have made her one of the most renowned journalists of our time: a remarkable sense of place, incredibly fast and precise prose, and an unwavering focus on the motivations behind her characters and actions. Above all, Martha Gellhorn investigates how individuals, both male and female, live quietly-and frequently with passion-amidst the historical turbulence.