Books by Anne Sebba
Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy
by Anne Sebba
This is a biography of Ethel Rosenberg, the first woman executed in the United States not for the crime of murder, and mother of two small children, aged 10 and 6. Always paired with her husband as 'the Rosenbergs'—executed in New York State for spying for the Soviet Union—in this book Anne Sebba brings Ethel's own story to life, from her dreams for becoming a singer when she was young to the last hugs before she was put to death. As Sebba flags at the beginning, "Ethel Rosenberg was not, I believe, a spy." She was a committed communist, loyal to her husband and not well-turned out (because the couple were poor) or emotional on the witness stand. That, apparently, was enough for her to end up on the electric chair, where even her electrocution was botched. Like so many Cold War stories, it's a brutal one.
Interviews where books by Anne Sebba were recommended
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1
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
by George Saunders -
2
Breaking the Social Media Prism: How to Make Our Platforms Less Polarizing
by Chris Bail -
3
Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy
by Anne Sebba -
4
Career and Family: Women’s Century-Long Journey toward Equity
by Claudia Goldin -
5
River Kings: A New History of the Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads
by Cat Jarman
The Best Nonfiction Books of 2021, recommended by Sophie Roell
The Best Nonfiction Books of 2021, recommended by Sophie Roell
As the Covid pandemic gets another lease of life with the appearance of the omicron variant, those of us spending additional time at home may need a few more books to read. Here, Five Books editor Sophie Roell shares some of her favourite nonfiction books of the year, from history to economics, lessons on how to write like Chekhov to the part each of us can play in reducing political polarization.
Sarah Helm review of Les Parisiennes in the Guardian, July 31st 2016