Southern Families at War: Loyalty and Conflict in the Civil War South [Paperback]

Catherine Clinton (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0195136845 | ISBN-13: 978-0195136845

Whether it was planter patriarchs struggling to maintain authority, or Jewish families coerced by Christian evangelicalism, or wives and mothers left behind to care for slaves and children, the Civil War took a terrible toll. From the bustling sidewalks of Richmond to the parched plains of the Texas frontier, from the rich Alabama black belt to the Tennessee woodlands, no corner of the South went unscathed. Through the prism of the southern family, this volume of twelve original essays provides fresh insights into this watershed in American history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Although historical scholarship has long focused on the military and political aspects of the American Civil War, the impact of its incredible carnage, economic dislocation, and social transformation on the lives of individuals has escaped much academic scrutiny until recently. Clinton (Southern and women's history, Baruch Coll., CUNY: Civil War Stories, LJ 9/15/98) has compiled a collection of essays that analyzes the experience of Southern families during and after his pivotal conflict. She addresses such intriguing topics as the disruption of family relations by conflicting loyalties, the growing independence or desperation of wives and widows on the home front, and the forging of new lives by African Americans in the wake of emancipation. Well written and researched, these essays represent some of the best new scholarship on this much investigated period by both emerging and established scholars. This fascinating volume is essential for academic and larger public library.
Theresa McDevitt, Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A welcome addition to the fields of Civil War and family history. The diversity of subjects will give the reader an overview of the war's effect on family life throughout the South."--Kentucky Historical Society

"The best of the essays offer inventive and perceptive alalyses informed by a deep humanity."--Civil War History

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195136845
• ISBN-13: 978-0195136845
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,372,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.