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Mata Hari, the True Story: The True Story

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This is the book to read if you want the real story about Mata Hari. Author Russell Warren Howe, an accomplished journalist, was the first writer to have access to the French Ministry of Defense's dossier on Mata Hari, which had been sealed for 68 years.

The documents in that dossier revealed that Mata Hari was nothing more than an ageing courtesan (and former exotic dancer) who became a very amateurish spy for the French in order to support the younger man she hoped to marry. She was set up by German intelligence in retaliation for her swindling them out of some money. French intelligence fell for this, then covered up by falsifying information and allowed her to become a sacrifice to the "spy fever" that then gripped World War I France.

Most other books about Mata Hari (such as Major Thomas Coulson's "Mata Hari: Courtesan and Spy") are outright fabrications that perpetuate the false image of her as a treacherous femme fatale who was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Allied soldiers. This book reveals what she actually was -- certainly a promiscuous, self-indulgent, foolish woman, but not the master spy of legend.

I have often heard of the treachery of Mata Hari. In this story, Howe uncovers the tall tales and relates the true story of the Dutch woman. This woman had many bad qualities, but she did not betray France. She was guilty of sleeping with all sorts of men (including Germans) and taking money from them. However there is little evidence she actually betrayed any secrets to the Germans. A German embassy official gave her money in Holland, and another one gave her money in Madrid. All she related is what she had read in the newspapers while in Paris. This is basically why they shot her. The French basically fell for a trick of the Germans when they read of her duties from a compromised code message. For that reason, she was shot.

Howe goes into great detail on the trial portion of Mata Hari's life. I would have liked more information on her pre-war relations with some of the famous of Europe. Howe was exposed to the secret court transcripts of Mata Hari. This is a nice read about a little known subject. Howe exposes the fault of the French military judicial system. The book does goes on too long on the court and minute details of some key aspects.