Ethel Rosenberg - A Cold War Tragedy
By Anne Sebba
Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2021 1st Edition
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Ethel Rosenberg: A Cold War Tragedy, by Anne Sebba, was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 2021 as the first edition. This deeply researched and compassionate biography reexamines the life, trial, and execution of Ethel Rosenberg—one of the most controversial figures of twentieth-century American history. Drawing on newly released FBI files, private correspondence, and interviews with family members, Sebba reconstructs Ethel's journey from a poor New York upbringing to her fateful entanglement in the Cold War espionage panic that culminated in her 1953 execution alongside her husband, Julius.
Sebba portrays Ethel not merely as a political symbol but as a woman shaped by poverty, ambition, loyalty, and maternal devotion. Through careful historical and psychological analysis, she challenges long-standing assumptions about Ethel's guilt and agency, suggesting that she was more victim than conspirator—caught between family ties, ideological pressures, and the era's virulent anti-communism. The book also explores broader themes of justice, gender, and fear in 1950s America, presenting Ethel's story as both personal tragedy and national reckoning.
Written with empathy and scholarly precision, Ethel Rosenberg: A Cold War Tragedy brings new humanity and nuance to a case long defined by ideology. It would appeal to readers interested in modern American history, Cold War politics, women's studies, and biographies that confront the moral complexities of justice in times of hysteria."
Minor wear to cover with small crease bottom corner as shown otherwise in very good to like new condition overall. Please study photos to understand condition. Happy to provide more photos on request.
