Sarah Broom Macnaughtan was a Scottish novelist and humanitarian worker whose literary career and life were profoundly shaped by her experiences during the First World War. Born in 1864, Macnaughtan initially built a reputation as a novelist, capturing the social dynamics of her era. However, her focus shifted dramatically with the onset of global conflict, leading her to channel her energies into active service and documentary writing.
Following the outbreak of the First World War, Macnaughtan volunteered with the Red Cross Society. Her duties took her far from home, leading her first to Russia and subsequently to Armenia. In these regions, she witnessed firsthand the immense suffering of civilian populations caught in the crossfire of war and systemic violence.
Deeply moved by the devastation she encountered, Macnaughtan dedicated much of her later writing to chronicling the plight of refugees fleeing the Armenian genocide. Her accounts provided crucial, firsthand testimonies of the humanitarian crisis in the Caucasus. Her tireless service ultimately took a toll on her health; she contracted a serious illness while working abroad and passed away in July 1916, leaving behind a legacy of literary advocacy and humanitarian courage.
