Martha Gellhorn

Long before the modern feminist moment, Martha Gellhorn proved herself equal to men in the field of war correspondence which was accepted as a profession nearly exclusive to men. She was one of the first female war correspondents in America. She though mainly known among the masses as the spouse of the American literary giant Ernest Hemingway was herself a renowned travel writer and world-class journalist too. Her writing career stretched for about 60 years. She had a tough separation from Hemingway and used to resent the fact that people would recognize her due to his popularity. She was peripatetic by nature and hence loved traveling. She had 19 homes in different locales and multiple romantic partners. Her striking beauty and vivacious persona certainly fueled her romantic liaisons. She had multiple marriages and several affairs. She was meticulous about her appearance and attire. People close to her knew her as demanding, strong, impatient, elegant, witty, and having temper issues. She was very keen on her appearance. She was passionate about exercise, diet, grooming, and nice clothes. During her final days. she was completely blind and suffering from ovarian cancer. She committed suicide at the age of 89. She would always remain an inspiration not only for women but everyone seeking to embrace the profession of journalism.

 Childhood & Early Life 

Martha Gellhorn, born as Martha Ellis Gellhorn on November 08, 1908, to Edna Fischel Gellhorn and George Gellhorn in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father was a gynecologist of German Jewish lineage. Her mother was an advocate for women's right to vote in the elections. She had two brothers, Walter - a law professor at Columbia University and Alfred - Oncologist and former dean of the "University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine." 

She was only eight years old when she participated at the Democratic Convention in St. Louis. She graduated from the John Burroughs School, in the year 1926. She opted for Bryn Mawr College for higher studies however left it without completion of her studies in 1927 to pursue a career in journalism. 

     Career 

The New Republic published her first articles. She was determined to become a foreign correspondent. In 1930 she moved to Paris and worked with the United Press Bureau as a foreign correspondent. In Europe, she became a part of the pacifist movement and also wrote a book about it in 1934 – "What Mad Pursuit." 

Upon returning to her United States, she went to work for Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). Her job was to travel around the country and report about the impact of the great depression on America. She later teams up with Dorothea Lange, a photographer to document the daily struggles of homeless and starving people. Both of them are credited due to their significant contributions to American history. She also wrote a collection of short stories, ‘The Trouble I’ve Seen’ about her work during this period. 

In 1944, Gellhorn went to Europe to cover the ‘Second World War.’ She sailed on a hospital ship to cover the D-Day landings on the beach of Normandy. In 1945, she entered the infamous Dachau concentration camp with the American soldiers and witnessed the liberation of the prisoners. She later described the grotesque images, and the harrowing description set new benchmarks for war journalism. 

Gellhorn covered the Vietnam War and the Arab-Israeli clashes while working for the Atlantic Monthly, she kept on continuing to work till her late 70’s. She covered the Central American civil wars and the invasion of Panama by the U.S. 

Major Works 

    Gellhorn apart from being a proven journalist was also a novelist and a travel writer. She had several acclaimed works including - "A Stricken Field" in the year 1940, probably her best work. It depicted the condition of fleeing refugees from Prague, which was surrendered to the Nazis in exchange for pseudo-peace. 

    "The Face of War," in 1959 is a classic of frontline journalism in the battles. It is an anti-war book. Her work reflects her wit and humor. 

    "Travels with Myself and Another" in 1978, which is a bit of a memoir of her travels to the battle lines in the company of an unwilling Ernest Hemingway. It depicts their journey, meetings, and conversations during the Sino-Japanese conflict.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Awards & Achievements    

     Gellhorn was the first women to be featured in the ‘American Journalist Stamp Series’ in 2008. The ‘Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism’ was also named after her, honoring her contributions.                                                                                                                                                                                   Personal Life & Legacy 

Gellhorn had an affair with Bertrand de Jouvenel, the French economist from 1930 to 1934. She, however, couldn’t marry him as his wife never agreed to give him a divorce.  

In 1936, she met Ernest Hemingway, and by 1940 she became his third wife. Gellhorn resented the popularity she gained from this marriage. 

Gellhorn also had several affairs notably with Major General James Gavin, the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. She divorced Hemingway in 1945 and got involved with businessman Laurance Rockefeller. In 1947, she was in a relationship with a journalist William Walton. In 1950, she moved on to a medical doctor named David Gurewitsch. 

Gellhorn married T.S. Matthews in the year 1954. She divorced him in 1963. In 1949, she adopted an Italian orphan boy, Sandy. She though initially cared for him; however, soon lost interest. Sandy stayed a while with relatives in Englewood, New Jersey, and eventually grew up in a boarding school.

Trivia    

    Martha Gellhorn, has been the subject of many articles and books herself. She was also portrayed in the 2012 movie - "Hemingway & Gellhorn" by Nicole Kidman. 

     Gellhorn was an epitome of a truly strong feminine persona. She lived life on her own terms. In her final years, her health failed her. She was suffering from ovarian cancer, which started to infect her liver. At the age of 81, on February 15, 1998, she committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide pill.