Who Are The Female Protagonists In 'Gone To Soldiers'?

I’ve been obsessed with 'Gone to Soldiers' for years—it’s one of those sweeping historical novels where the female characters aren’t just side notes; they’re the heartbeat of the story. Marge Piercy crafts these women with such depth that they feel like people you’d meet in real life, each carrying the weight of World War II in their own way. Let me dive into who they are, because honestly, they deserve all the attention.

Louise Kahan is the one who sticks with me the most. She’s a journalist in New York, sharp as a razor and stubborn enough to fight her way into a male-dominated field. Her chapters read like a love letter to resilience—she’s covering the war from afar, but the way she grapples with isolation and ambition makes her story intensely personal. Then there’s Jacqueline Levy-Monot, a French Jewish resistance fighter. Her sections are pure tension; every page feels like walking a tightrope between survival and betrayal. The way she navigates danger, using her wit as much as her weapons, is nothing short of thrilling.

Bernice Colette is another standout. She’s a factory worker in Detroit, and her narrative is this raw, unflinching look at how the war reshaped women’s roles in America. Her struggles with love, labor, and loss are so grounded that you forget you’re reading fiction. And let’s not forget Naomi, Jacqueline’s younger sister, whose letters from the ghetto are achingly poignant. Piercy doesn’t soften the horror, but she also lets Naomi’s voice shine with moments of unexpected hope.

The beauty of these protagonists is how their lives intertwine—sometimes directly, sometimes through the ripple effects of war. Louise’s articles might mention Bernice’s factory; Jacqueline’s actions impact Naomi’s fate. It’s this tapestry of perspectives that makes the novel feel monumental yet intimate. Piercy doesn’t just write women surviving history; she writes them shaping it, in ways both loud and quiet. If you haven’t met these characters yet, you’re missing out on some of the most compelling heroines in historical fiction.