The Dragon from Chicago: The Untold Story of an American Reporter in Nazi Germany

After following author Pamela Toler’s blog History in the Margins for months where she would regularly mention the book she was writing about American journalist Sigrid Schultz, I found myself intrigued by this foreign correspondent for Central Europe before, during and after the Second World War. Toler far exceeded my expectations in The Dragon from Chicago: The Untold Story of an American Reporter in Nazi Germany. This isn’t a dry history book; instead it’s a fascinating look at a strong, independent woman making her way in a traditionally man’s world in a time when that world was fraught with danger and fear of the what the future might hold.

Schultz was a strong, complex woman, determined to be recognized for her talent and show more abilities, unafraid to put herself in danger for the story. But she was also stubborn, opinionated, competitive and often frustrated and felt jealous of or slighted by a fellow reporter’s achievements, and she wasn’t above using her feminine wiles to get a scoop. Author Toler brings Schultz to life, presenting both her strengths and flaws, through extensive research and attention to detail, laced with humor, irony, and a vivid picture of the times Schultz lived and worked in.

The Dragon from Chicago is expertly written, blending Schultz’s personality and sometimes larger than life actions with the haunting tragedies of the world war. It is a book not to be missed. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less