The Lady and the Tigers is Olga S. Greenlaw’s vivid, personal account of her time with the American Volunteer Group (AVG), also known as the Flying Tigers, during World War II. In August 1941, she found herself in a unique position as the only woman among over 250 airmen stationed on the edge of the jungle in Burma. For a year, she lived alongside them, witnessing their training, battles, and camaraderie, eventually chronicling her experience in this memoir.
Greenlaw was well-prepared for adventure. Born in Mexico during revolutionary turmoil, she witnessed violence early and lived a nomadic life that made her feel like a foreigner everywhere. Her marriage to West Pointer Harvey Greenlaw took her to China in 1933. In 1941, after a dramatic disagreement with her husband over joining Claire Chennault’s AVG, she accompanied him to Burma.
As the keeper of the AVG’s official War Diary and a close associate of Chennault, Greenlaw offers a firsthand look at the men who became war heroes. Her narrative, though often disjointed and filled with personal anecdotes, brings life and color to the Tigers’ story. She shares moments of heroism, loss, and levity, from battle scenes to tea gatherings at the so-called "Greenlaw Hotel."
Her memoir is less about military strategy and more about character and emotion—how young pilots hardened through combat and coped with loss. She also doesn’t shy away from personal drama, including a pointed jab at Clare Boothe Luce and a humorous retort to General Brett’s criticism of their messy kitchen.
The Lady and the Tigers is memorable for its raw energy and for showcasing Olga Greenlaw herself—a bold, sharp-witted woman in the heart of war.
1943, E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., Fourth printing. Hardcover, dust jacket in good condition. Shelf wear to cover and binding, Minor loosening to binding. In good condition.
Book Details | |
Author | Olga S. Greenlaw |
Publisher | E.P. Dutton & Co. |
Publication Date | 1943 |
Format | Hardcover |
Language | English |
Condition | dust jacket in good condition. Shelf wear to cover and binding, Minor loosening to binding. In good condition |
The Lady and the Tigers, by Olga S. Greenlaw
- Publisher: E. P. Dutton & Co
- ISBN: 194304
- Availability: In Stock
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US$75.00