Ellen Newbold La Motte (1873–1961) was an American nurse, journalist, and author who became a prominent voice in early 20th-century war literature and public health advocacy. Born in the late 19th century, she initially established herself in the medical field, becoming a leading practitioner in the treatment of tuberculosis. Her professional background in nursing deeply informed her perspective on human suffering and systemic societal issues, which she would later translate into powerful written works.
During World War I, La Motte served as a nurse, an experience that inspired her most famous and controversial book, The Backwash of War. Published in 1916, the collection of essays and vignettes offered a devastatingly realistic, bitter, and cynical portrayal of the devastation of war, contrasting sharply with the romanticized propaganda of the era. The book's raw honesty led to its suppression by wartime censors in both the United States and Great Britain.
Beyond her war writings, La Motte was an active journalist and advocate. She traveled extensively, particularly in Asia, where she became deeply invested in exposing and addressing the devastating impacts of the opium trade in China. Her subsequent writings and advocacy efforts played a significant role in raising international awareness about drug addiction and colonial exploitation.
