Gellhorn Moaning About China

Martha Gellhorn’s 1941 trip to China is a good story, that’s why I’ve included it quite extensively in my forthcoming book on the history of journalists in China – out in June (sorry, a not too subtle plug). The trip had everything – Gellhorn travelled with her grumbling, moaning husband Ernest Hemingway; he was spying for the US State Department anyway. She also eventually decided she wasn’t enjoying herself – she got to hate the dirt and lack of hygiene in wartime China and Chongqing.

Despite her fearless reporter reputation, it seems Gellhorn rather crumbled in China where she didn’t like the toilets. And then she started moaning, and moaning and moaning. I was reminded of this the other day flipping through The Selected Letters of Martha Gellhorn, edited by Caroline Moorhead. All the letters are interesting of course as Gellhorn did have a fascinating life and career but the several letter included from her China trip (which included going to Hong Kong and along the Burma Road) reminded me what a moaner she could be when it came to China.