Anne Sebba offers a compelling and meticulously researched account of one of the most controversial figures in American history. Sebba's writing style is clear and concise, making complex historical events accessible to readers of all backgrounds. The pacing of the biography is well-executed, allowing the narrative to unfold naturally while keeping readers engaged from start to finish.

One of the standout features of "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy" is its historical accuracy. Sebba presents a balanced and nuanced portrayal of Ethel Rosenberg, providing insight into the political climate of the Cold War era and the events leading up to her controversial execution. Through extensive research and thorough documentation, Sebba brings new perspectives and sheds light on previously overlooked aspects of Ethel Rosenberg's life.

Furthermore, the cultural relevance of Ethel Rosenberg's story is undeniable. Sebba skillfully examines the societal norms and political ideologies of the time, offering valuable insights into the complexities of loyalty, justice, and patriotism. In an era marked by renewed interest in issues of justice and civil liberties, "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy" serves as a timely reminder of the importance of critical thinking and historical context. Overall, Sebba's biography is a thought-provoking and enlightening read that will appeal to both history enthusiasts and general readers alike.

Read this book ages ago. Not certain why I failed to leave a review. I loved it. I like the writing of Anna Sebba. I knew nothing about Ethel Rosenberg. I found this book readable and interesting. I can't say I liked Rosenberg's choices but she is an interesting character. Scary to think this really happened.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Very interesting, informative, and well researched look at the Rosenberg’s, especially Ethel. I had heard of this trial and the subsequent executions of the Rosenbergs, but I was not well read on the case. During the hysteria of the Cold War and especially McCarthyism, so many people were targeted but Ethel Rosenberg paid the ultimate price with very little “evidence” of her guilt.

Many thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read Ethel Rosenberg. This is an well researched and brutally honest glimpse at what drove Ethel Rosenberg. Her story touched me deeply and the author does an amazing job of showing us who Ethel was.

Most accounts of this headline making story talked of the Rosenberg's as if they were one person. This is the first time I've seen one that treats Ethel as an individual. Anne Sebba obviously has spent the time and effort to learn Ethel's history and see her family life before and after the arrest and trial. This era in history is marked by the almost fanatical fear of Communism and the sensational exhibits the McCarthy-led public would make of anyone accused of spying. So many rear view mirror views have cast doubt on the guilt or innocence of the Rosenbergs, it was educational to read Sebba's book. It has generated enough curiousity that I'm reading more on the era and the trial.

This was absolutely heartbreaking. What a strong woman Ethel Rosenberg was to face the death penalty for crimes she did not commit. This book was well researched, and I learned about someone I had never heard of but had a huge impact during the McCarthy era of the 1950s. I am so glad I was able to read this book!

Although I knew very little about this infamous woman, I was immediately sucked in to her story. Sebba was not only informative, but also entertaining and compassionate. The turbulent times during this period are highlighted in such a way that Ethel Rosenberg becomes a victim of circumstance, and perhaps, true love. I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating book. Highly recommend for history buffs, those that love to read about interesting women, and those that just want to learn more about this Ethel in particular.

Very interesting look at such an interesting historical event. I knew the gist, but learned so much about the Rosenberg's and their role from this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it seems to be thoroughly researched. However, I feel like perhaps much is unknown about how much Ethel really knew and how involved she really was or wasn't in her husband's espionage for the Soviet Union. One thing is evident, the author was very pro-Ethel and much of her justifications against her execution revolved around the fact the she was a young mother.

Rated - 3.5 An interesting look at a piece of history often forgotten and the importance of fear as well as political beliefs impact in today's society. This is a well-searched and intimate look at a little-understood woman who holds a major place in American history. She was the first and only American female executed for espionage. This story provides the historical data and research regarding the fall out regarding communism and espionage. While Ethel was involved with communist causes in her youth, she abandoned much involvement after she had children. She devoted much of her time and energy on becoming a successful parent. She read and researched extensively on parenting and child psychology. How much or what she knew about her husband’s activities is unknown and more importantly unproven. Another point is if her husband threw her under the mythical bus as well as the importance of her strength versus his lack of strength. I appreciated the detail in which the author went to recount this interesting piece of American history, the narrative was bogged down in the amount of details presented.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I read this book a while ago, but I will blame the pandemic on my poor follow-up for the review. Hopefully you guessed by the high rating that it was a thumbs up for me. I knew the basic outlines of this story from the little they taught us in school about it, but we certainly did not hear anything in Ethel's defense. This is such a tragic story—my proof of that is that, while reading, I was frequently reading out snippets to my husband (who honestly does not appreciate my outbursts while he is also reading, or watching tv, or trying to take a shower, but still. I have a profound need to share sometimes). Most of these outbursts were accompanied by an oh my god, this is unbelievable. I cannot believe they did this, etc. etc. It is an American tragedy, but also, such a truly heartbreaking, very personal one.

Before picking up this book, I thought I had a basic understanding of the Rosenberg case. I had understood they were spies that were convicted during the Cold War for passing US state secrets to the Soviet Union. Sebba’s focus on Ethel’s role in the story was enlightening. She describes Ethel’s upbringing as an intelligent girl raised in a secular Jewish household in Manhattan. She was a talented singer who performed with the prestigious Schola Cantorum, despite the derision and lack of support from her family, particularly her old-fashioned mother. She became a supporter of Communism in the 1940s, during a time when the US still largely viewed the Soviet Union as an ally in defeating Nazi fascism. She and her husband Julius were tried together, and their legal representation was unequal to the task of defending them. The criminal evidence against Ethel was circumstantial at best. Her intelligence and independence fed into the public opinion that whatever her role in the crimes for which she was being tried, she was guilty of not fulfilling the expected role of submissive homemaker. Trial materials have since come to light of prosecutorial misconduct in supporting false testimony (Roy Cohn was a young prosecutor on the team). Sebba tells a very thorough and compelling story of Ethel Rosenberg’s life that also includes a sensitive account of the lives her two young sons were able to live after their parents’ deaths. Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

A very thoroughly researched account of the life and plight of Ethel Rosenberg. Sebba recounts the life, trials and death of Ethel Rosenberg in a pretty even-handed and straightforward manner. This was an interesting read on the historical Ethel Rosenberg and her demise as the wife of a soviet spy.

I wanted to like this book. World War II and Cold War books, both nonfiction and fiction, are generally right up my alley.

This book, however, left me frustrated.

Ethel Rosenberg and her husband, Julius, were spies against the United States. They were convicted of their crimes and punished by death. These are the facts that have been proven in a court of law and well documented.

This book, on the other hand, made all sorts of excuses for why Ethel should not have been considered complicit in “her husband’s” espionage. The largest excuse was that Ethel was a mother. What that had to do with her being a spy or not being a spy was a mystery to me, especially since getting married and having children (being part of a family unit) was perfect cover for the spying. In addition, most spies would have been trained to maintain their innocence if caught and to not name names and compromise the rest of the spy ring. So it makes perfect sense to me that Ethel would have said she were innocent even if she was guilty. Even criminals with zero training often maintain their innocence until death even if they’re guilty of the crime they were convicted and punished for.

One of the Soviets said they were “buying the silence of [Ethel].” That told me that she was indeed complicit, at the very least, with the espionage. According to the proofs given in this book, Ethel Rosenberg was a master manipulator and “extremely intelligent.” That led me to believe she was much more involved than mere complicity. Ethel became a member of the Communist political party of her own free will; that party was a mainstay of the Soviet Union, which made it clear which country’s side Ethel was on throughout the Cold War.

The United States was in a war of intelligence with the Soviet Union (modern-day Russia), so spying for the Soviet Union (giving away weapons secrets, to mention an example that was used in the book) was rightfully considered treason and traitorous. Ethel’s involvement in this war was proven in court, as evidenced even in this book, so I’m not sure why there is an attempt with this book to create her to be some sort of innocent martyr. She committed the crime; she had to take the punishment. That’s the way the law is supposed to work in this country (U.S.).

The evidence given within the book proved to me that Ethel was in fact a Communist of her own free choice, was in fact guilty of espionage against the United States, and was in fact a traitor to her country. Her punishment was fitting for the crime and in accordance to United States law. With the proof spread all throughout the pages, it was unclear to me why this book was labeled “an American tragedy,” unless the tragedy was that Ethel and her husband had sold out their country to its largest enemy in their era.

Some assumptions in this book (such as when a child’s origin was thought to possibly be an accident) did not have any proof assigned to them whatsoever; therefore, they felt like purposeful dramatizations in order to “prove” the author’s point, as well as to extract extraneous empathy for a character who committed treason against her country, rather than a glimpse of reality for these people back in the era in which they lived. The overuse of the word “mother” was also clearly intended to instill empathy for this Soviet spy.

The final nail in the coffin for me was in the epilogue, when the author tried to blame President Donald Trump for the death of Ethel Rosenberg and her husband, Julius, who were convicted spies and already dead and buried by the time President Trump became President of the United States. In fact, President Trump was born on June 14, 1946, which means he was an infant through perhaps four years of age during the Rosenbergs’ espionage and arrest. A child who wasn’t yet old enough to be registered into elementary school could not be blamed for the actions of adults—and he likely never personally knew the Rosenbergs. During President Trump’s presidency many decades later, he proved himself to be a Patriot devoted to the country he served; therefore, he would not have granted posthumous pardons to traitors of his beloved United States of America.

Content: nudity, suicide mentioned, sexual perversion mentioned, expletives, profanity

Thank you for my copy of this book about Ethel Rosenberg. This era of American history has always intrigued me. I found this book to be well-researched. It was a bit dry but I read it in sports. Was Mrs. Rosenberg guilty? I am still not sure. I really feel for her children. I recommend this to anyone curious about the McCarthy era.

I tried to get in to this one, but it just wasn’t for me. I had to DNF at 20%. If in the future I give this one a shot I will update my review.

This was a very moving read! This book tells the story of a woman who executed for being a spy during the Cold War. It was heartbreaking tragedy because she would leave behind two children. Thus, this book showed the horrors of the Cold War!

I don;t read a lot of non-fiction but thought this story might be interesting. Unfortunately, it didn't really hold my interest. You would think a story of a husband and wife team convicted of espionage would be quite the thriller but this one fell flat.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this arc for my honest opinion. I loved the story line of this book. It's the first book I have read by the author Anne Sebba. I felt it was written well but could be confusing at times.