Author: Anne Sebba
Started: May 25, 2021
Finished: May 27, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to listen to this story in exchange for an honest review.
Ethel Rosenberg was executed by electrocution on June 19, 1953, at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York. She was considered an American spy along with her husband, Julius.
Anne Sebba delves into Ethel's life from her upbringing with the mother she never emotionally connected with or felt loved by to the moment she met her husband and fell in love. From the moment they met, Ethel and Julius were inseparable. Ethel would support her husband in anything he chose to do, including being a part of the Communist party. When Julius is brought in for questioning Ethel is called in shortly behind. She continues to be supportive of Julius despite the fact that her life is at risk.
Sebba gets into the details of how Ethel's brother and sister-in-law turned her in and lied about her work for the Communist party. Through it all, Ethel continues to support her husband. Ethel and Julius are found guilty and sentenced to death. Ethel's maintained her innocence until the very end.
I found this book to be extremely interesting. I have long wanted to read about Ethel and Julius Rosenberg and found this to give a wonderful background story on Ethel's life and ultimate death. There were times the story felt a little drawn out but they were few and far between. Anne Sebba did a wonderful research job and told a very thorough story.