Salt the Snow by Carrie CallaghanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
February 4, 2020
ARC, NetGalley, historical fiction, WWI, Russia
Amberjack Publishing
Chicago Review Press
ISBN: 9781948705646
304 pages
1/14/20-2/6/20
Based on the true story of American journalist Milly Bennett. I honestly knew nothing about her until I read this book which intrigued me. Her full name was Mildred Jaqueline Bremler who often wrote under her married names: Mildred Mitchell and Mildred Amelie.
The story focuses on her time in Moscow during the 1930’s under the political leadership of Joseph Stalin. In 1934, Milly Bennett is a 37 year old reporter working for the Moscow Daily News with several other American reporters.
In February 1931, Milly Mitchell (married name on passport) travels by ship from New York to Russia to work as a reporter for the Moscow Daily News. Anna Louise Strong hosted her stay while she worked for the newspaper. Ms. Strong was a formidable leader in the news industry.
She makes friends with many people working and living in the city during the political tension.
Luba is a Ukrainian student assigned to a subdivided apartment where her friend Victor can often be found. Milly enjoyed drinking and dancing at the local clubs. She spends a lot of her evenings out with Luba and Victor where she eventually meets Zhenya Ivanova who works as an opera singer at the theatre.
The attraction between Milly and Zhenya is compelling yet unconventional. Their whirlwind romance leads to a marriage of convenience as they never live with each other. He continues to reside with his mother Olga until he is suddenly arrested. Milly is distraught and works hard to get her husband released from prison. Controversy and rumors explode regarding the circumstances of Zhenya’s arrest.
This was a truly informative novel providing insight into the life of a strong female in history. Her life was filled with many ups and downs but remarkable during the time period in which she lived.
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