The Backwash of War A Nurses Diary from the Battlefield

Ellen Newbold La Motte (1873–1961) was an American nurse, journalist, and author who made her mark during World War I. In 1915, she became one of the first American war nurses to volunteer in Europe, where she treated soldiers in a French field hospital in Belgium. La Motte kept a poignant diary that vividly captured the harrowing realities of war. As a professor of American studies who has devoted years to researching her life, I delved into her compelling war writings. Shortly after the war began, La Motte published her groundbreaking book, “The Backwash of War,” which presents a mix of unsettling and darkly humorous tales of the wounded and sick soldiers she encountered. Join me as we explore the impactful legacy of this long-forgotten nurse and public health advocate. – Cynthia Wachtell, Research Associate Professor, Yeshiva University (New York Times, May 22, 2020)