James Cameron admired Martha Gellhorn above all other war-reporters 'because she combined a cold eye with a warm heart' The Chicago Times described her writing as 'wide ranging & provocative a blend of cool lyricism & fiery emotion alternately prickly & welcoming funny & stern' But make your own judgements & in the process find yourself plunged straight back into Madrid during the Spanish Civil War feel the frozen ground of the Finno Russian war the continent-wide Japanese invasion of China the massacres in Java the murderously naive intervention in Vietnam & the USA's dirty little wars in Central America You will also experience the process of the Second World War by the seat of your pants It is a tough way to learn history but also one created in bite-sized chunks that inspire just as often as they shock