A fearless writer committed to truth

THE LETTERS OF MARTHA GELLHORN - Edited by Caroline Moorehead, Chatto & Windus, €43.80

I finished this superbly edited selection of Martha Gellhorn’s letters wishing to God I had been a friend of this formidable woman and thanking God I had never been her publisher or editor.

Up until her 89th year, w hen she put her papers in order and calmly committed suicide by taking the pill she had procured some years before for that purpose, Martha Gellhorn continued to write passionately and with stark honesty ...