Romania during World War I: Observations of an American Journalist

Romania during World War I faced a unique situation. Although ruled by a German king, it had strong cultural and historical ties to France and the West. The young nation also had territorial ambitions that it hoped to satisfy. As a result, the country maintained cautious neutrality in the early years of the war before ultimately deciding to enter the conflict on the side of the Allies in 1916. One of those who witnessed this situation was the American journalist John Reed.

Internationally known for his famous account of the Bolshevik Revolution, Ten Days that Shook the World, John Reed’s writings about Romania are, until now, virtually unknown. As a journalist of great talent and a witness to the situation in Romania in 1915, on the eve of its entry into the war, John Reed’s accounts are insightful reading for anyone interested in this period of Romanian history or the author himself. Edited, with an introduction by Dr. A.K. Brackob, this volume brings together these writings and reveals John Reed’s unique perspective on Romania.

Born in Portland, Oregon on October 22, 1887, John Reed was among the most highly acclaimed journalists of his day, famous for his first-hand accounts of the Mexican Revolution, where he rode alongside Pancho Villa, in addition to his famous book on the Russian Revolution. Reed was also a political activist and a founding member of the Communist Labor Party of America. He died in Russia on October 17, 1920, and is one of only three Americans buried in the Kremlin Wall.