Fighting France

Fighting France: From Dunkerque to Belfort, is a compilation of articles Wharton wrote for Scribner’s Magazine and the Saturday Evening Post, reporting from the Western Front during WWI. Living in Paris, she was trapped in France when travel became impossible after Germany declared war and French mobilization began. She was one of a number of expatriate American writers living there, primarily women, who became involved in war charities during the opening months of the conflict, years before the United States abandoned its official policy of neutrality. Wharton was a vigorous and passionate supporter of the French war effort, and was part of the American expat community that felt humiliated by the United States’ lack of support. She was determined to use her considerable influence at home and abroad to persuade Americans to support relief efforts for the tragically displaced and starving Belgian refugees, and to use whatever means she could to shed light on the disaster unfolding in Eu