Book Review: The Race for Paris

By Jessica Asbell

Meg White Claytons The Race for Paris is the fictional account of female reporters during WWII. As evidenced by the actual quotes from WWII female reporters sprinkled throughout the book, its clear that they were not welcomed on the front lines, and steps were taken to try to ensure their safety and to keep them in their assigned location. If caught, going AWOL could be a career-killer for a photographer/reporter, but it could be a career-maker if they successfully made it to the front to be the first to report a citys liberation.

The Race for Paris is about Jane (a journalist) and Liv (a photographer) who go AWOL from their assigned field hospital in an attempt to report from the front. They meet up with Fletcher (a friend of Livs husband) and Charles, who is also a photographer. Fletcher is a photographer for British Intelligence; his job is to go to dangerous places and report about the locations of the Germans. The four of them set off toward the front in Paris with the burning desire to be the first to report its liberation.

Along the way, they face very real danger and are aided by allied troops. They befriend strangers and see the devastation left by the war. Soon, readers discover that Liv is chasing more than just the notoriety that comes with reporting a great story. As she pushes Jane and Fletcher on to Holland, their dreams, desires, and the reality of war all come crashing together in an explosive way.

The Race for Paris is a fictional account of WWII, but it is also about what it takes to keep going, how much we are willing to give for our dreams, and the ways we remain strong in the face of adversity and death. Claytons fictional account allows readers to see WWII from a different perspective through the lens of a camera.