The Nuremberg Women

The Untold Story of the Eight Women Who Brought the Nazis to Justice

By: Natalie Livingstone

Narrated by: Esther Wane

"Livingstone’s deeply researched, unfailingly fascinating book gives the many extraordinary women at or near the centre of the Nuremberg trials their proper, important, and often ignored place in history" —Salman Rushdie

Bestselling author and historian Natalie Livingstone tells the story of the Nuremberg trials in a new way: through the eyes of the women who were there on the ground.

In November 1945, the eyes of the world turned to Nuremberg. Humanity was seeking not only the truth about Nazi crimes but also a vision of what justice might look like in their aftermath. The trials are traditionally associated with a roll call of famous men, but they were only part of the story. Not only were there women involved in the trial in every role—as journalists, researchers, lawyers, interpreters, court reporters, witnesses, artists, and even defendants—but they were pivotal in the trial’s outcome.

The Nuremberg Women tells the story of eight women: a brilliant American lawyer, three pioneering journalists, two German, one British, an iconoclastic artist, a beautiful refugee aristocrat, a dauntless survivor of Auschwitz, and a young Russian translator.

From the major stories about justice, gender, and politics at a pivotal moment in the twentieth century to the smaller, daily intimate tales of the women’s affairs and bar-room disputes, The Nuremberg Women shows the most famous trial of the twentieth century in a new light—making a brave new case for it having been a more diverse and democratic exercise than has often been recognized.

They reveal a Nuremberg that is more intimate, human, and haphazard; one that was lower paid and less publicized. They demonstrate that the trial was remarkable not because it was perfect but because, against all odds, it happened. Thanks to these women and many others, justice was served.

Critic reviews

"Natalie Livingstone’s deeply researched, unfailingly fascinating book gives the many extraordinary women at or near the centre of the Nuremberg trials their proper, important, and often ignored place in history" —Salman Rushdie, New York Times bestselling author of The Eleventh Hour

"Beyond powerful, this deeply researched and moving book is brilliant, unforgettable, vital history.... Gripping .... A landmark book, urgent history for our current age." —Kate Williams, New York Times bestselling author of Regina

"Perceptive, meticulous and full of humanity, The Nuremberg Women expands our understanding of a critical episode of 20th century history... Allows us to see through fresh eyes the reality - and significance - of the Nuremberg trials, whose impact is felt to this very day." —Jonathan Freedland, New York Times bestselling author of The Escape Artist

"A dramatic and compelling read - with her meticulous research and passionate storytelling, Natalie Livingstone paints eight talented and courageous women back into a picture from which they had been erased... a masterclass in the restoration of sidelined voices - it proves that yet again, the history we learned is only half the tale. Poignantly told and magnificently written, I found it absolutely unputdownable." —Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper