Kings, Queens and Pawns Book

Rinehart is most known for her mysteries today, but she also wrote a few books in the "travel adventure" genre, as well as being a trained nurse. These two qualities helped her gain access to the Western front as a journalist in 1915.

Or sort of a journalist. The Allies were clearly very interested in her progress; she seemed to have no problems getting interviews with top level figures -- Sir John French, British Commander in Chief, Marshal Foch, the Supreme Allied Commander, and King Albert I of Belgium. Rinehart was certainly used as a propaganda conduit; I do wonder what of her observations she may have suppressed (or had suppressed).

Edith Wharton and Mary Roberts Rinehart at the Western Front, 1915 reportedly has extracts from her actual notes; I'd like to see what might be in them, and how different they were from what was published.

There are fewer medical details than I would have preferred -- she was obviously writing for a lay audience -- but interesting anecdata is retailed. Also, an oblique reference that makes me think that she saw very early tank.Not altogether, of course. There were still transports and troops. And at an intersection of three roads we were abruptly halted. A line of military cars was standing there, all peremptorily held up by a handful of soldiers.

The young officer got out and inquired. There was little time to spare, for I was to get to Calais that evening, and to run the Channel blockade some time in the night.

The officer came back soon, smiling.

"A military secret!" he said. "We shall have to wait a little. The road is closed."

So I sat in the car and the military secret went by. I cannot tell about it except that it was thrillingly interesting. My hands itched to get out my camera and photograph it, just as they itch now to write about it. But the mystery of what I saw on the highroad back of the British lines is not mine to tell. It must die with me!

All in all, it's an interesting view of this time during World War I, and well-written, but it does need to be taken with a grain of salt.