From School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up--A collection of stories by or about women of the Civil War era. Louisa May Alcott's "The Blue and the Grey" is based on her experiences as a nurse during the war; similar in tone to a morality play, it features the interactions between two dying soldiers, one from the North and one from the South. Edith Wharton's "The Lamp of Psyche," one of her earliest published works, deals with questions of cowardice and how a newly married woman reacts to the news that her husband had shirked his duty. Among the other stories included is one by Elsie Singmaster, author of the classic A Boy at Gettysburg. All of the selections work together to give an interesting picture of women who lived during this period. This collection might be best read with an eye toward its literary merit rather than as a history book, but either way, it's a great tool for introducing some oft-overlooked female writers.
Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN
Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
