The open city / Shelley Smith Mydans
Title
The open city / Shelley Smith Mydans
Subject
Philippines--History--Japanese occupation, 1942-1945--Fiction.
Description
Novel set in the Philippines during World War II, particularly the first days, and internment in Santo Tomas Internment Camp.
The author was the wife of famed Life cameraman Carl Mydans, and was herself a noted journalist. The two were caught on assignment in the Philippines when the war broke out, saw the horrors of war unleashed in Manila, and were interned in Santo Tomas. But they were lucky that they both were repatriated on the exchange ship Gripsholm.
While the book is fiction – “the characters are imaginary and many of the incidents are fictional” according to the author, “the background of this book is real.” Provides an intimate portrait of Americans under Japanese rule without mentioning real names.
The author was the wife of famed Life cameraman Carl Mydans, and was herself a noted journalist. The two were caught on assignment in the Philippines when the war broke out, saw the horrors of war unleashed in Manila, and were interned in Santo Tomas. But they were lucky that they both were repatriated on the exchange ship Gripsholm.
While the book is fiction – “the characters are imaginary and many of the incidents are fictional” according to the author, “the background of this book is real.” Provides an intimate portrait of Americans under Japanese rule without mentioning real names.
Creator
Mydans, Shelley Smith.
Publisher
New York : Doubleday, Doran and Co., c1945
Date
1945
Format
21 x 14 cm.
Type
Hardbound
Call Number
PZ 3 .M98977 Op
Accession Number
13783
Edition
1st ed.
Pagination
x, 245 p.
Notes
Rare
Files
Collection
Citation
Mydans, Shelley Smith., “The open city / Shelley Smith Mydans,” FHL-Roderick Hall, accessed October 12, 2026, https://fhl.omeka.net/items/show/355.