This is a truly remarkable work. Given how ubiquitous female narratives of WWII currently are, both in fiction and non-fiction, it can be hard for new entries to stand out. But this is truly a stand-out offering.
The fact that the author's great-aunt was one of the titular 9 makes this a uniquely personal and emotional work. The recounting of Helene's work, capture, and treatment by the Nazis feels so much more immediate and real because the connection between the author and her subject jumps off the page. Gwen writes about her aunt and their interviews in such a way that the woman and events do not feel removed and mythic as is the case in many other historical narratives. There is a patina of reality to this account that grips you and demands you read more. But on the flipsid, Strauss also manages to avoid the trap of becoming TOO personal in her account. She doesn't write as someone trying to cash in on her relative's experience, she writes as a historian who just happened to have a living, breathing source in her family. She manages to imbue the story with a professionalism that provides just enough detachment to make the book an important historical source in its own right.
If I had one complaint, it would be that there are times that Strauss doesn't seem to be sure of the tone she wants to take, and she consequently winds up with some jarring transitions. The book opens more like a fiction-toned narrative, before jumping into an information dump about her aunt's work, followed by a sudden tale of one of her aunt's missions. Despite the somewhat disjointed moments, the material is so fascinating, and so well written, that I was gravely disappointed to find I had already finished my first look. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one and complete the story.
The fact that the author's great-aunt was one of the titular 9 makes this a uniquely personal and emotional work. The recounting of Helene's work, capture, and treatment by the Nazis feels so much more immediate and real because the connection between the author and her subject jumps off the page. Gwen writes about her aunt and their interviews in such a way that the woman and events do not feel removed and mythic as is the case in many other historical narratives. There is a patina of reality to this account that grips you and demands you read more. But on the flipsid, Strauss also manages to avoid the trap of becoming TOO personal in her account. She doesn't write as someone trying to cash in on her relative's experience, she writes as a historian who just happened to have a living, breathing source in her family. She manages to imbue the story with a professionalism that provides just enough detachment to make the book an important historical source in its own right.
If I had one complaint, it would be that there are times that Strauss doesn't seem to be sure of the tone she wants to take, and she consequently winds up with some jarring transitions. The book opens more like a fiction-toned narrative, before jumping into an information dump about her aunt's work, followed by a sudden tale of one of her aunt's missions. Despite the somewhat disjointed moments, the material is so fascinating, and so well written, that I was gravely disappointed to find I had already finished my first look. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one and complete the story.