Historical Nonfiction

 

Title: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy

Author: Karen Abbott

Paperback: 544 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2014

Language: English

Genre: Historical Nonfiction

Time Period:  1861 - 1865

Summary

At a time when women were expected to stay at home while the men participated in the Civil War effort, four incredible women; Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Emma Edmonds, Elizabeth Van Lew, and Belle Boyde, decided to use any means at their disposal to contribute to the cause.  Their patriotic spirit and strong beliefs were the driving force of their actions and they were willing to risk all they hold dear to help vanquish the enemy.

Rose O'Neal Greenhow is a widow and a mother who is known for her beauty and clever wit.  Using her social standing within the more influential homes of society, she is able to interact with Union politicians and officials to gain access to sensitive information that she passes along to her Confederate allies.  Under suspicion of spying for the Confederacy, Rose and her daughter spend time in prison where Rose continues to gather information under Union officials noses.  She is able to use her cleverly worded quips to gain her freedom and to continue serving her cause by becoming a courier to Europe.

Emma Edmonds only knew hardship under her father's rule.  She decided to take her fate in her own hands when she decides to lop off her golden curls and don the mantle of a man who enlists in the Union army. Serving as a private, "Frank" is witness to the bloodiest battles and serves as a courier risking his life for the Union cause.  His cunning and daring adventures earn him the respect and recognition from all in his unit.  To avoid discovery, Frank leaves his position in the arm to recuperate from malaria.

Feisty Belle Boyde is not known for her beauty but she carries a certain charm that men are unable to avoid.  Flirting her way into outright seduction, Belle is able to manipulate men from both sides of the conflict to relinquish military secrets that she then passes on to the Confederate army.  Belle is later awarded the Southern Cross of Honor for her contributions.

Elizabeth Van Lew is an abolitionist residing Richmond, Virginia,  where she uses her great wealth to purchase slaves only to set them free.  Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederate States of America when the war breaks out and Elizabeth's compassion steers her to help the wounded Union soldiers wasting away in Libby prison.  Her quiet strength and determination is responsible for organizing one of the greatest espionage rings in the city, right under the noses of her critics. 

Genre: Historical Non Fiction

Pride, strength, belief and determination cultivates the actions of the four distinct women who chose to take an active role in the Civil War.  The story of each woman is meticulously researched using primary sources and interviews from their descendants.  The author provides detail in the lives and surroundings of each woman as events unfold to influence their actions.  The book is a narrative story with facts and circumstances of battles woven together to produce a holistic picture of the war and its players.  The author chose to tell the story using two women from each side of the conflict. The author is neutral in her writing by allowing each character to tell their story from their point of view,  in their own words. 

The pacing of the book is moderate as the author alternates the story line of each woman in chronological order.  The four parts of the book is broken down to represent each year starting with 1861 and ending in the year 1865.  The ending of the book give a brief summary of the lives of each women after the war concludes.  The tone is somewhat dark and desperate as each character struggles with the intensity of the times.  The language takes advantage of the northern and southern dialect to aptly convey the regions of each character. 

Historical Nonfiction

Mary Chesnut: A Diary From Dixie by Mary Boykin Chesnut

Personal Memoirs by Ulysses S. Grant

They Fought Like Demons: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by DeAnne Blanton

Historical Fiction

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

March by Geraldine Brooks