Book review: The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck
Genre: Historical fiction
Release date: August 19, 2025
Goodreads rating: 4.45
My rating: 4.5
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If you enjoy books based on real people, The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck is an absolute must! It is based on the life of trailblazing photojournalist and war correspondent Georgette ‘Dickey’ Meyer Chappelle and follows her from post WWII until the Vietnam war. It brings many of Dickey’s real experiences to life such as her imprisonment during the 1956 Hungary uprising, or the evolution of her friendship with Fidel Castro. It also grants readers a captivating insider’s view into the life of an international photojournalist. But above all, it brings to light the incredible life achievements of Dickey herself.
Trained as a Marine, she defied the social conventions placed on women in the 50s-60s: she rejected marital life, prioritized her career (which she considered a vocation), and delved into a male-dominated field where she became highly respected despite much pushback at the start (and despite some mistakes along the way). She was a woman who felt compelled to bear witness and document the realities of war. She aimed to document the cost of war and take ‘the photo that ends all wars.’
It's a fascinating read and I loved the various formats that author Erika Robuck used to bring the story to life: letters, cables, radio interviews… It’s also fascinating to connect the story to the photos referenced in the book which you can look up on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s website. Dickey’s photos, in addition to being published in leading publications such as Reader’s Digest and National Geographic, were also used by the military for intelligence gathering. Dickey was a very much an active serviceperson in these conflicts.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue
The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley by Shelley Wood