Book Review - Warrior: Audrey Hepburn : Reviewed by Horst Cerni

 

“Warrior: Audrey Hepburn”

by Robert Matzen
Review by Horst Cerni

Audrey Hepburn was a glamorous award winning actress. She became a legend as an actress, but the role for which most of us know her best is as spokesperson for the world's children. What is most amazing is that since her death her fame is growing. 

Several books have been written about her experiences during World War II, her movie career, and now one about her missions for UNICEF. After talking with Audrey’s second son, Luca Dotti, about Audrey’s life, the author Robert Matzen realized that a lot hadn’t been told about her humanitarian work and the terrifying trips she had taken to tell the world the story of UNICEF.

Matzen had researched Audrey’s childhood and had already written the book “The Dutch Girl”. In his latest book, “Warrior”, he gives interesting details about the way Audrey came to UNICEF. She knew about Danny Kaye’s commitment and was inspired by him. She had also learned from her Swiss neighbor, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, the former head of UNHCR, about UN work and issues affecting refugees, especially children. 

As spokesperson, she wanted whatever she would say to be based on her personal observations and feelings. She wanted to see for herself the situation of women and children, especially in emergency areas. She had no fear of going to the most dangerous countries. 

Matzen got most of his stories from UNICEF field staff (see below), and in this way he demonstrated the heroism of UNICEF personnel and  the difficult situation they faced every day. He credits UNICEF staff with making difficult arrangements for Audrey’s field visits, which required a lot of negotiations with government partners, and even rebel groups, and solving logistical challenges.. 

Matzen is very skillful in telling Audrey’s story. He refers to various historical events that influenced her decisions - like “Live Aid” and the reports about the famine in Ethiopia. He uses a lot of dialogue (based on briefings and field preparation). He dramatizes the field visits and emphasizes the dangers and Audrey’s bravery.  These dramatic stories become real thrillers. 

Even though many of us already know some of the stories, the book still  makes fascinating reading. Some great photos also help.

‘Warrior’ is available as an eBook at Amazon for $ 14.29.  The printed version has just been released, as well, for $27.95.  

I include below a few of the many stories contributed by UNICEF staff  - in this case, Fouad Kronfol, George Kassis, Shahida Azfar, Crista Roth, and Ian McLeod  There are many others by people you know and situations you will find familiar from your days in UNICEF.

1. From page 54

You Just Decide 

In New York Jim Grant set Audrey up with Fouad Kronfol, chief of the Africa section, program division, at UNICEF headquarters. “A few days later I was on the phone with Ms. Hepburn and we went through almost two hours of questions, answers, statistics, information, and other aspects related to Ethiopia," said Kronfol. “I was extremely pleased with her charming personality to start with, but also impressed with her knowledge and consideration of issues; she was very attentive, asked intelligent questions, and absorbed a great deal of pointers on policy, program issues, and activities. Naturally I also pointed her in the direction of important documents to read and other UNICEF staff to talk to. The whole briefing went off remarkably well and it was a most gratifying and memorable bit of official business I had been involved with, especially with celebrities.” 

Another program officer in the Africa Section, George Kassis, became her go-to resource after Kronfol's initial briefing. Audrey "was given my phone number to call with any last-minute queries or updates," said Kassis. “Sure enough, especially in the beginning, she would call ... with pointed questions, and I took advantage of every call to put her on speaker phone. You can imagine how jealous and impressed my colleagues were overhearing our conversations on the phone. She was so concerned and keen to do a good job." 

One of those colleagues was Shahida Azfar, who said: “One day George was generous enough to ask me if I wanted to hear his interaction with her. He immediately dialed her and her response was prompt, personal, and warm, almost affectionate. This further increased my admiration of her and envy of George Kassis!” 

With the stakes for Audrey's first field mission so high, she would have overseers along throughout. “The trip was half organized by the American committee for UNICEF and the president was also with her in Ethiopia,” said Christa Roth, who now had to coordinate the itineraries of Audrey and Robbie and also President…..

2.  From page 279 

Ian MacLeod noted, “The absolute look of shock and horror on Audrey's face as she could see the pain of the mothers who, also in a pitiful condition, knew they could do nothing to save their children from death.” In the tortured hour Audrey's group spent at the Concern feeding center, MacLeod said ten children died. 

One of the young Irish nurses drifted up to Audrey and touched her arm. She whispered that maybe Audrey should go to the staff quarters to get away for a moment. The nurse advised that, here, "It's much worse to watch than to work.” Audrey forced a smile and said, no, she was here exactly for this: to see the worst and then go and tell the world. 

“The workers that were working there and running the camp were handling it as best they could," said Betty. “I'm sure they saved a lot of lives.” 

The film crew's director pointed out one of the infants and asked Audrey to try to feed her. Audrey knew with a glance that this child would not make it. She told him no. She decided not to participate in videotaping at certain key points. She always considered filming a “necessary evil” to raise awareness of the desperate situation--but this was too much, and these people deserve privacy, “human dignity” as she described it, even now. Especially now. 

She said, “There's this curious, what can I call it, embarrassment, timidity that comes over one when you walk into a feeding center like that, of, I feel I shouldn't be there. I feel I should leave. It's like walking into somebody's room who is dying and the family should be there, only the nurses, you know what I mean, of sort of intruding in some way.” 

As Robbie described his companion, “It's a love for people that goes beyond sympathy. It is perhaps more than empathy. An ability to project her imagination so that she could actually feel what others are feeling.” And for an empath, this was much too much. 

So many here were dying in ways she understood all too well from the Hunger Winter. She said, “I wonder if people think about …