Talkshow Thursday: Meet Martha Gellhorn

Hello, everyone! Fictional war correspondent Ruth Brown here. Today I'm interviewing Martha Gellhorn-novelist, travel writer and war correspondent. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Martha is a real globe trotter. I'd like to introduce you to her.

Ruth: Thanks for joining me, Martha. You are one busy lady. How did you get your start in journalism?

Martha: After my high school graduation from John Burroughs School, I enrolled in Bryn Mawr College. I always wanted to be a writer, and decided to leave college before graduating to pursue a career as a journalist. I was able to get some of my articles published in The New Republic which gave me some great visibility. That led to other assignments.

Ruth: You make it sound easy!

Martha: I think I was in the right place at the right time. After a couple of years, I decided I wanted to be a foreign correspondent. It took me a while, but I was able to get on board with United Press in Paris.

Ruth: How exciting! You wrote a couple of books, too. Tell me about them.

Martha: The first one was published in 1934 and is called What Made Pursuit. It's about the time I was involved in the pacifist movement in Europe. In 1940 I published A Stricken Field about Hitler's rise to power and my time in Czechoslovakia. But war reporting is my first love.

Ruth: You've seen a lot of action, and not always with permission.

Martha: (laughing) Yes, ma'am. As a woman war correspondent, it's tough to get to where the real war is happening. Sometimes I have to take things into my own hands. I tried to get press credentials for the Normandy landings, but no one would give them to me, so I hid in a hospital ship bathroom and then when we landed I pretended to be a stretcher bearer. I had to get there. It was terrible time, but I knew I had to experience it myself and report on it.

Ruth: You're very brave. Thanks for taking time to meet with me. Good luck, and stay out of trouble!

Martha: Not likely to happen, but thanks for the sentiment!

Meet Ruth Brown, WWII Correspondent

Ruth Brown is the main character in my historical mystery series. I have completed three manuscripts and will shortly begin the fourth. Here's a brief interview so you can get to know her:

Linda: Thanks for spending some time with us. Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself, Ruth.

Ruth: I'm a New Englander, born and bred, being raised in a small town in New Hampshire. I was a journalist with my hometown newspaper where I primarily covered the social pages. I was bit by the investigative bug when I inadvertently stumbled on some illegal goings-on with our town manager. Then in June 1942 I became a stringer with the AP wire service and got stationed in London.

Linda: You joined the AP in order to follow your sister's killer to England where you managed to bring him to justice. You also helped the police solve two other murders. How did that come about?

Ruth: Well, the murders found me. I didn't go looking for them. The first time,

our boarding house was bombed, and when I went back later to pack up some of our surviving goods, I fell through the floor onto a skeleton. The second time, a good friend of mine was killed just as I arrived to take her to lunch.

Linda: That must have been scary! I also understand you've received threats as a result of some of your newspaper articles. What happened?

Ruth: Actually just one so far, but it's not unusual for an investigative reporter to stir up emotions and receive letters from readers. I wrote an article explaining the difference between communism, socialism and fascism. One of my readers accused me of being a Fascist. Fortunately, nothing has come of the threat thus far.

Linda: What are you working on now?

Ruth: I've started a series on the how the war has impacted women. Job opportunities, military service, volunteer roles. That sort of thing.

Linda: Sounds interesting. I can't wait to read your work. Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to chatting with you next Thursday.

Ruth: Thanks for having me.