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Switchboard Soldiers

A Novel

Audiobook
1 of 2 copies available
1 of 2 copies available

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini, a bold, revelatory novel about one of the great untold stories of World War I—the women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, who broke down gender barriers in the military and battled a pandemic as they helped lead the Allies to victory.

"An eye-opening and detailed novel about remarkable female soldiers. . . Chiaverini weaves the intersecting threads of these brave women's lives together, highlighting their deep sense of pride and duty."—Kirkus Reviews

In June 1917, General John Pershing arrived in France to establish American forces in Europe. He immediately found himself unable to communicate with troops in the field. Pershing needed telephone operators who could swiftly and accurately connect multiple calls, speak fluent French and English, remain steady under fire, and be utterly discreet, since the calls often conveyed classified information.

At the time, nearly all well-trained American telephone operators were women—but women were not permitted to enlist, or even to vote in most states. Nevertheless, the U.S. Army Signal Corps promptly began recruiting them.

More than 7,600 women responded, including Grace Banker of New Jersey, a switchboard instructor with AT&T and an alumna of Barnard College; Marie Miossec, a Frenchwoman and aspiring opera singer; and Valerie DeSmedt, a twenty-year-old Pacific Telephone operator from Los Angeles, determined to strike a blow for her native Belgium.

They were among the first women sworn into the U.S. Army under the Articles of War. The male soldiers they had replaced had needed one minute to connect each call. The switchboard soldiers could do it in ten seconds.

Deployed throughout France, including near the front lines, the operators endured hardships and risked death or injury from gunfire, bombardments, and the Spanish Flu. Not all of them would survive.

The women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps served with honor and played an essential role in achieving the Allied victory. Their story has never been the focus of a novel...until now.


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    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 2, 2022
      Chiaverini’s enchanting latest (after The Women’s March) highlights the heroic efforts of a group of women who helped the U.S. war effort during WWI. After the U.S. joins the war in 1917, General Pershing discovers there’s a lack of adequate phone service in Europe. The Army then recruits French-and-English-speaking American women as telephone operators to serve in France in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, including Barnard-educated telephone operator Grace Banker, talented French vocalist Marie Miossec, and Belgian-born Valerie DeSmedt from Los Angeles. After undergoing training in New York, the women travel to France by ship, encountering the dangerous waters patrolled by German U-boats. Marie, who met a soldier on the train to New York, keeps writing to him, holding out hope that they may reunite after the war ends. As the women work tirelessly to ensure lines of communication remain open, they discover the meaning of true friendship and the resilience needed to live in sparse quarters while working long hours in less than ideal circumstances. Chiaverini brings her singular characters to life, including real historical figures, as they become united in the quest to serve their country. Fans of historical fiction will be captivated. Agent: Maria Massie, Massie & McQuilkin Literary.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Saskia Maarleveld brings a great deal of enthusiasm to her portrayals of women who served in the U.S. Army's Signal Corps during WWI. They broke the gender barrier while facing mortal danger from the fighting on the front lines and from the influenza pandemic behind the lines. Maarleveld voices these telephone operators whom America sent overseas to help our troops communicate, as well as other members of the American Expeditionary Forces and the allies with whom they interacted. Thus, the narration requires a variety of accents; even the "hello girls" themselves were chosen for their ability to speak French. This is a largely unknown, involving story based on the real-life women whose dedication matched that of the men beside them. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from June 10, 2024

      Best-selling author Chiaverini (The Women's March) offers a novel about one of the great untold stories of World War I--the women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, also known as the "Hello Girls." These brave American women, requested by General Pershing because of their skills and accuracy, answered the call of the U.S. Army in June 1917. They were deployed throughout France (even at the front lines), serving as telephone operators who translated both English and French. Even though they could not yet vote or enlist in the armed forces, they did their duty with great courage and patriotism, weathering dire conditions and enemy fire. This story of love, war, patriotism, courage, hardship, influenza, and sacrifice follows several women from a variety of backgrounds from their prewar lives through their recruitment, then to the battlefield and beyond. Saskia Maarleveld provides an emotive narration, bringing out the book's rich descriptions and engaging listeners in the adventure and heartache of the characters. Maarleveld brings a warmth to the story and adds depth with pitch-perfect accents. VERDICT Chiaverini's many fans will be clamoring for this highly recommended audio. Share also with readers who enjoy learning about little-known accomplishments of women in history.--Scott DiMarco

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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