All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days by Rebecca Donner Summary

All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days chronicles the life of Mildred Harnack, an American woman who led a clandestine anti-Nazi resistance network in Berlin. Rebecca Donner’s biography details Harnack’s covert operations, including distributing anti-Hitler leaflets, espionage, and using shortwave radios to broadcast Allied news, culminating in her 1943 execution on Hitler’s orders. The book blends historical analysis with personal letters and diaries.

This book is ideal for WWII history enthusiasts, readers interested in unsung female heroes, and those exploring resistance movements. Its narrative depth appeals to fans of biographical histories like The Zookeeper’s Wife or The Nightingale, offering fresh insights into civilian defiance under fascism.

Yes. The book won the National Book Critics Circle Award, PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award, and The Chautauqua Prize. Critics praise its meticulous research and gripping storytelling, with The New York Times calling it a “stunning literary achievement”.

Donner highlights Harnack’s recruitment of dissidents, covert intelligence-sharing with Allies, and subversion of Nazi propaganda through underground radio broadcasts. Her dual identity—posing as a Nazi-aligned teacher while organizing resistance—showcases her strategic brilliance.

The book examines Joseph Goebbels’ manipulation of media, including state-mandated “People’s Radios” to control information. Harnack countered this by using a Blaupunkt shortwave radio to access banned foreign broadcasts, distributing truthful news to undermine Nazi narratives.

Arvid Harnack, Mildred’s husband, was an economist and key figure in the anti-Nazi resistance. The book positions him as a background collaborator, focusing instead on Mildred’s leadership and her network’s gender-diverse composition.

The book received the 2022 National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography, PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award, and The Chautauqua Prize. It was also shortlisted for the LA Times Book Prize and Governor General’s Literary Award.

Donner intertwines historical context with intimate details from Harnack’s letters, creating a novelistic pace. Her use of primary sources, including Gestapo interrogation records, adds visceral urgency to the story.

Some reviewers note the dense web of historical figures might challenge casual readers. However, most praise Donner’s ability to balance scholarly rigor with accessible storytelling, calling it “innovative” and “definitive”.

Harnack’s courage in resisting authoritarianism resonates in modern contexts, offering lessons on civic resistance and media literacy. Her execution—and posthumous vindication—underscore the enduring fight for truth against repression.

Yes. Donner draws from Harnack’s diaries, declassified FBI files, letters, and Gestapo interrogation transcripts. These materials reveal her inner conflicts and the risks she took to document Nazi crimes.

Donner accessed archives in Germany, the U.S., and Russia, alongside family documents. Her 10-year research process included translating rare German sources and interviewing descendants of resistance members.