The Woman Who Fought an Empire: Sarah Aaronsohn and Her Nili Spy Ring

Description

Though she only lived to be twenty-seven, Sarah Aaronsohn led a remarkable life. The Woman Who Fought an Empire tells the improbable odyssey of a spirited young woman--the daughter of Romanian-born Jewish settlers in Palestine--and her journey from unhappy housewife to daring leader of a notorious Middle East spy ring. Author Gregory J. Wallance draws on archival records as well as the memoirs, diaries, and letters of Sarah, her brothers, and fellow spies. Following the outbreak of World War I, Sarah Aaronsohn learned that her brother Aaron had formed Nili, an anti-Turkish spy ring, to aid the British in their war against the Ottomans. Believing that only liberation from the Ottoman Empire could advance Jewish settlement in Palestine, Sarah joined, eventually rising to become the organization's leader. Operating behind enemy lines, she and her spies furnished vital information to British Intelligence in Cairo about Turkish military forces and fortifications until, in the fall of 1917, she was arrested by the Turks. To protect her secrets, Sarah shot herself. The Woman Spy Who Fought an Empire tells the incredible story of a remarkable woman who would become known as the Jewish Joan of Arc and the "hero of Nili."

Gregory J. Wallance is a lawyer and writer in New York City, a former federal prosecutor, and a longtime human rights activist. He is the author of Papa's Game, nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award; America's Soul in the Balance: The Holocaust, FDR's State Department, and the Moral Disgrace of an American Aristocracy; and the historical novel Two Men before the Storm: Arba Crane's Recollection of Dred Scott and the Supreme Court Case That Started the Civil War. For more information about the author visit https://www.gregorywallance.com/.

"Gregory J. Wallance's beautifully written and meticulously researched account of Sarah Aaronsohn's leadership of the Nili spy network during World War I casts a long overdue spotlight on one of the most fascinating personalities of the early Zionist era and should be required reading for anyone interested in modern Jewish history."--Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress--Ronald S. Lauder (09/18/2017) "In order to prevent further Turkish atrocities, Aaronsohn and her Nili ring of spies began offering the British, who were fighting the Turks in battles in Egypt, information from behind Ottoman lines. Wallance paints a portrait of a complex woman who performed heroic work during difficult times. For those looking for a book about espionage that has real human lives at stake, this little-known story is a tremendous read."--Lorraine Berry, Signature Reads--Lorraine Berry"Signature Reads" (04/12/2018) "Wallance vividly conveys the logistical challenges and daily intrigue of operating a spy ring in that time and place."--Jeff Fleischer, Foreword--Jeff Fleischer "Foreword " "A solid, well-researched biography of a remarkable woman."--Ronald Florence, author of Lawrence and Aaronsohn: T. E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict--Ronald Florence (09/18/2017)