Where Duty Calls: The Story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, Soldier and Spy in the Union Army (Paperback)

by Marilyn Seguin (Author) "Emma hoisted the heavy bag over her shoulder in the pre dawn gloom, picked up her heaviest pair of shoes, and quietly crept to the..." (more)
Key Phrases: where duty calls, rebel lines, burial detail, Marilyn Seguin, Sarah Emma Edmonds, Chaplain Bee (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
At least 400 women enlisted and fought on both sides during the terrible national conflict that was the War Between the States. Their reasons for enlisting ranged from wanting to stay with their husbands or lovers to patriotism and a firm dedication to the cause for which they fought. Most of these women disguised themselves as men, and some were soon discovered and discharged. A few women fought in the war and their identity was never discovered. This book is about one of those young women, Sarah Emma Edmonds, whose identity was apparently never revealed until many years after the war ended. Emma's experience is especially interesting because during her enlistment she served as a Union Spy, causing her to adopt multiple identities in addition to her male disguise.

About the Author
Marilyn Segun

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Branden Books (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0828320470
• ISBN-13: 978-0828320474
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #870,586 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Adolescent Historical Fiction, March 29, 2000

By	astrifem (Ellicott City, MD) - See all my reviews

"Where Duty Calls: The Story of Sarah Emma Edmonds" is a recently published, fictionalized account of the life of Union spy Sarah Edmonds. The plot of the story itself is quite interesting, chronicling the adventures of a female who poses as a male spy during the Civil War. The book, although not noted as relevant to a certain age category, is more suitable for younger children. Although it includes excerpts from Edmond's autobiography, and does well in sticking to the facts, it reads like a young adventure novel. It is definitely a more fictionalized account of Edmonds life, and doesn't go into the more intellectual and historical issues of gender roles and Union spies. If you would like a well-written, simplistic overview of Edmonds' life; or if you know a young child who likes to read about real life spies, then "Where Duty Calls" is the book for you.