If This Is a Woman

If This Is A Woman: Inside Ravensbruck: Hitler's Concentration Camp for Women is a 2015 book by Sarah Helm about the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp.

If This Is a Woman

First edition
Author	Sarah Helm
Language	English
Subject	Ravensbrück Concentration Camp
Genre	History
Publisher	Little, Brown
Publication date	2015

Yvonne Roberts of The Observer wrote that the book's "title powerfully echoes If This Is a Man".^[1]

Background

Helm learned about the camp whilst writing about the British Special Operations Executive.^[2] Helm visited various countries to conduct research, including France, Israel, the Netherlands, and Poland.^[1]

Reception

Joanna Bourke in The Daily Telegraph wrote that the author "never sensationalises" the "viciousness" of female guards and does not show a reluctance to illustrate "the surreal horror that overwhelmed prisoners, particularly when they first arrived at the camp."^[2] She rated the book five out of five stars.^[2]

References

1. "If This Is a Woman: Inside Ravensbrück, Hitler's Concentration Camp for Women review – profoundly moving". The Guardian. 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
2. Bourke, Joanna (2015-02-05). "If This Is a Woman by Sarah Helm, review: 'refuses to stereotype'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2020-04-11.