Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Abbott has crafted such a fantastic work of nonfiction. Her strength lies in her ability to use narrative to show these remarkable women. While the book is over 400 pages, the story is well-paced. At times she jumps around a little too much but that makes the reader keep on reading wanting to hear more. This is a great addition for those interested in American History and the Civil War.
informative
medium-paced
Fascinating and exciting, not something I would have said about history books before this decade. Read it, loved it, bought it for my father (civil war buff) and grandmother.
This book showed three women one was a liar, another a temptress, the last a spy.
It was really interesting to see how women took on roles typically not fit for women to help the side they viewed as right.
It was really interesting to see how women took on roles typically not fit for women to help the side they viewed as right.
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
fast-paced
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
I enjoyed this book, but as a historian, I think it has a lot of flaws. I can't really stand Abbott's style of narrating the lives of these women with editorial flourishes that clearly aren't present in any historical records. I mean, she tells us what was going through Rose Greenhow's head as she drowned, for example; how does she know that? It's not like Greenhow wrote a journal entry on it later on or something.
I only listened to the audiobook, meaning I haven't looked at her sources, but there's already been a lot of secondary work on these four women, so I doubt Abbott has contributed much original material.
Still, these are some fascinating women, the stories of their lives and involvement in the Civil War told in an accessible fashion. I was left with a lot of admiration and respect for all four of them, even as someone who firmly believes Belle Boyd and Rose Greenhow were on the wrong side.
I only listened to the audiobook, meaning I haven't looked at her sources, but there's already been a lot of secondary work on these four women, so I doubt Abbott has contributed much original material.
Still, these are some fascinating women, the stories of their lives and involvement in the Civil War told in an accessible fashion. I was left with a lot of admiration and respect for all four of them, even as someone who firmly believes Belle Boyd and Rose Greenhow were on the wrong side.
informative
medium-paced
A historical fiction novel that uncovers the secret network of liars and charmers whose daring actions and deception played a pivotal role in shaping America's future during the Civil War.
Rating: 4.25
Rating: 4.25