Wise Gals

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Manufacturer: Nathalia Holt
Brand: Nonfiction, History, Memoirs, Biographies
Brew: Ebook
Steeping Time: 400 pages (hardback)
Tea Service: NetGalley ARC
Strength:

Synopsis: In the wake of World War II, four agents were critical in helping build a new organization that we now know as the CIA. Adelaide Hawkins, Mary Hutchison, Eloise Page, and Elizabeth Sudmeier, called the “wise gals” by their male colleagues because of their sharp sense of humor and even quicker intelligence, were not the stereotypical femme fatale of spy novels. They were smart, courageous, and groundbreaking agents at the top of their class, instrumental in both developing innovative tools for intelligence gathering—and insisting (in their own unique ways) that they receive the credit and pay their expertise deserved.

Throughout the Cold War era, each woman had a vital role to play on the international stage. Adelaide rose through the ranks, developing new cryptosystems that advanced how spies communicate with each other. Mary worked overseas in Europe and Asia, building partnerships and allegiances that would last decades. Elizabeth would risk her life in the Middle East in order to gain intelligence on deadly Soviet weaponry. Eloise would wield influence on scientific and technical operations worldwide, ultimately exposing global terrorism threats. Through their friendship and shared sense of purpose, they rose to positions of power and were able to make real change in a traditionally “male, pale, and Yale” organization—but not without some tragic losses and real heartache along the way.

Meticulously researched and beautifully told, Holt uses firsthand interviews with past and present officials and declassified government documents to uncover the stories of these four inspirational women. Wise Gals sheds a light on the untold history of the women whose daring foreign intrigues, domestic persistence, and fighting spirit have been and continue to be instrumental to our country’s security.

The second I saw Wise Gals, I knew I had to get my hands on it. It is exactly my kind of book. World War II? Check. Female spies? Check. All sorts of espionage and adventure? Check and check.

I knew I would love Wise Gals, but I didn’t expect just how much. Not only did I learn about five incredible women, who spent their lives and careers shaping what we now know as the CIA, but I learned so much more about our own history as a country after 1945. I’ve never had much interest in any events post-WWII, and I was bummed to see that we left that behind so early in the book, but let me tell you, I was not disappointed for long.

Nathalia Holt does a phenomenal job of keeping the reader engaged. Wise Gals ventures heavily through the Cold War Era, an era I’ve never had much interest in at all, and it absolutely captivated me. I couldn’t put this book down! The pace is solid, the people we get to know are fascinating, and the writing flows flawlessly through it all. I loved the book’s format and that we constantly jumped from one woman to the next, seeing all of the ways that they were connected through their missions over the years. For some, it might be hard to keep track of who’s who, but I really enjoyed it.

Wise Gals is not your typical history book. It isn’t dry and doesn’t drag.

Nathalia weaves such a beautiful tapestry from the lives of these women, and I found myself constantly saying, “One more chapter.” Then, before I’d even realize it, I’d be a few pages into the next chapter, which of course led to the inevitable, “Well, I’ll finish this chapter and then go to bed.” You won’t find a dull moment at all.

Another thing I loved about Wise Gals is that there are photos throughout. Some books have that big chunk of photos smack in the middle, which drives me nuts. I prefer to see the pictures when reading about what they directly relate to, and Wise Gals has perfected this. We get to see these women exactly as they were while they were performing the daring deeds written of in the book, and you don’t have to flip through the middle photo dump to put it all together.

Reading Wise Gals, it doesn’t feel like much has changed in the department of women being paid less and not getting the same recognition as their male counterparts. The struggle that the women of Wise Gals went through is incredible, and I know they’d be fuming to see that we are still facing these kinds of issues today. However, I think they’d also be proud of the tenacity of women today. For the rest of time, I’ll carry their stories in my heart, and I’ll let them fuel the fight should ever the need arise.

My only complaint about Wise Gals is that there wasn’t more.

I needed more!! This book could have been double the size and I’d have devoured every word. I’d love to know more about Eloise’s time in Greece. I’d love to learn more about each and every one of them, really. Which is insane considering just how much Nathalia Holt gives us. But seriously. More, please.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read this book before publishing. I can’t wait for the release in September when I can buy a physical copy for my shelf at home. And another huge thank you to Nathalia Holt for taking the time to teach me about the incredible women who fought like hell to be able to do their jobs. Of course, the biggest thank you to Jane, Liz, Addy, Eloise, and Mary. Your contributions are not forgotten. I hope many more people come to know your names.

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Cheers,
Lydia