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mebfabulous's review against another edition
2.0
Should have been written as historical fiction
Book would have been better as historical fiction. Author tried to put too much unnecessary details which made it confusing. I had to reread many parts to clarify. Author seemed to have a tendency to want to insert her own assumptions into what a "character" saw or felt, this would not have been a problem if the book was historical fiction. Too much assuming for a work of non fiction.
Book would have been better as historical fiction. Author tried to put too much unnecessary details which made it confusing. I had to reread many parts to clarify. Author seemed to have a tendency to want to insert her own assumptions into what a "character" saw or felt, this would not have been a problem if the book was historical fiction. Too much assuming for a work of non fiction.
erikajay's review against another edition
3.0
This nonfiction account of four women during the Civil War was good, but not great. It definitely focuses on the most sensational stories and instances surrounding these women, which does make for some interesting reading.
Since I listened to this book, I didn’t get to see the sources listed at the end, but the author does state that she uses first-hand accounts from the women who published their memoirs after the war. That is wonderful, but I wish there was more discussion about their validity, bias, and possible embellishments used to sell more copies of their books.
I also wish that that the book was broken into four sections, with each section telling one woman’s story from start to finish. Instead we constantly flip between each story, which just pulled me out of the narrative.
Since I listened to this book, I didn’t get to see the sources listed at the end, but the author does state that she uses first-hand accounts from the women who published their memoirs after the war. That is wonderful, but I wish there was more discussion about their validity, bias, and possible embellishments used to sell more copies of their books.
I also wish that that the book was broken into four sections, with each section telling one woman’s story from start to finish. Instead we constantly flip between each story, which just pulled me out of the narrative.
angus_mckeogh's review
4.0
I’m a big fan of Civil War history and this included many events I was ignorant of. Centers around the female contribution to the war effort. Spying, covert activities, and disguises in order to participate in the war as a soldier. Very interesting stuff, I enjoyed it.
bookph1le's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic. Full review to come.
Full review:
History was one of my least favorite subjects in school. With one notable exception, it seemed like my teachers excelled at taking the material and making it as dry and boring as possible, distilling what should have been thrilling events and interesting characters into a checklist of names and dates. In other words, all of the context was removed. As an adult, I now suspect my dislike for history had less to do with my teachers and more to do with textbooks and the way education tries to cram in as much as possible at the expense of robbing the subject of all relevance and interest.
I bring this up because Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy is the kind of book that, as a kid, I wouldn't have believed could have existed (because history couldn't possibly be interesting) and that, as an adult, blows me away. Compulsively readable, this book is a page-turner like any good work of fiction, bringing to life four fascinating and extraordinary women, and the perilous times in which they lived.
We meet Emma Edmondson, AKA Frank Thompson, who fled the restrictions of life as a woman by posing as a man, going door-to-door selling Bibles before enlisting with a Michigan regiments. Then there's Elizabeth Van Lew, the wealthy socialite living in Richmond who uses her family funds as she risks not only her good standing in society but her very life to spy for the Union army. On the Confederate side is the bold, brash (and often outrageous) Belle Boyd, who at seventeen defies a Union soldier in order to protect her mother, and Rose Greenhow, who goes as far as Europe to plead the Confederate case.
By the time I finished reading, I couldn't believe I had never heard of these three women, and that all I knew of Belle Boyd was that she had been a spy. School history does an excellent job of erasing the contributions of women and minorities that it's jarring to realize they played their roles. Though I was by no means disappointed by the four women on whom Abbott chose to focus, I was sorry not to learn more about Mary Jane Bowser, a former slave Rose had emancipated, and who infiltrated Jefferson Davis's house, posing as a servant while collecting invaluable intelligence. I wonder how anyone could find such story anything less than compelling.
The book is rich in detail, both about the lives of these women and the time in which they lived. Abbott does an excellent job of painting a portrait of all four, giving details about their lives, passions, and interests outside of the war so that each feels three-dimensional. Belle Boyd in particular was endlessly fascinating to me, her behavior sometimes so brash and outrageous that it was hard to believe she wasn't a work of fiction. I was also shocked to read about Emma Edmondson and the extraordinary women like her, whose desire to serve their country was so strong it inspired them to place themselves in great personal danger--not just on the battlefield, but also from their fellow soldiers, who could never know the truth about their comrades-at-arms.
I've always been interesting in the Civil War, but this book presented an entirely different perspective on the conflict. This is history brought to life in all its drama, intrigue, and suspense. Had I learned history the way Abbott presents it in this book, I'd have paid a lot more attention in school.
Full review:
History was one of my least favorite subjects in school. With one notable exception, it seemed like my teachers excelled at taking the material and making it as dry and boring as possible, distilling what should have been thrilling events and interesting characters into a checklist of names and dates. In other words, all of the context was removed. As an adult, I now suspect my dislike for history had less to do with my teachers and more to do with textbooks and the way education tries to cram in as much as possible at the expense of robbing the subject of all relevance and interest.
I bring this up because Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy is the kind of book that, as a kid, I wouldn't have believed could have existed (because history couldn't possibly be interesting) and that, as an adult, blows me away. Compulsively readable, this book is a page-turner like any good work of fiction, bringing to life four fascinating and extraordinary women, and the perilous times in which they lived.
We meet Emma Edmondson, AKA Frank Thompson, who fled the restrictions of life as a woman by posing as a man, going door-to-door selling Bibles before enlisting with a Michigan regiments. Then there's Elizabeth Van Lew, the wealthy socialite living in Richmond who uses her family funds as she risks not only her good standing in society but her very life to spy for the Union army. On the Confederate side is the bold, brash (and often outrageous) Belle Boyd, who at seventeen defies a Union soldier in order to protect her mother, and Rose Greenhow, who goes as far as Europe to plead the Confederate case.
By the time I finished reading, I couldn't believe I had never heard of these three women, and that all I knew of Belle Boyd was that she had been a spy. School history does an excellent job of erasing the contributions of women and minorities that it's jarring to realize they played their roles. Though I was by no means disappointed by the four women on whom Abbott chose to focus, I was sorry not to learn more about Mary Jane Bowser, a former slave Rose had emancipated, and who infiltrated Jefferson Davis's house, posing as a servant while collecting invaluable intelligence. I wonder how anyone could find such story anything less than compelling.
The book is rich in detail, both about the lives of these women and the time in which they lived. Abbott does an excellent job of painting a portrait of all four, giving details about their lives, passions, and interests outside of the war so that each feels three-dimensional. Belle Boyd in particular was endlessly fascinating to me, her behavior sometimes so brash and outrageous that it was hard to believe she wasn't a work of fiction. I was also shocked to read about Emma Edmondson and the extraordinary women like her, whose desire to serve their country was so strong it inspired them to place themselves in great personal danger--not just on the battlefield, but also from their fellow soldiers, who could never know the truth about their comrades-at-arms.
I've always been interesting in the Civil War, but this book presented an entirely different perspective on the conflict. This is history brought to life in all its drama, intrigue, and suspense. Had I learned history the way Abbott presents it in this book, I'd have paid a lot more attention in school.
cclift1114's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
A well-written, well-researched piece about four women breaking out from stereotypically feminine roles during the Civil War. I’m amazed at how much Abbott was able to compile.
nderiley's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting tale - the intertwining of stories and varying sympathies kept the book fresh for me and the thorough research into the subjects helped make them all relate-able.
noranne's review against another edition
This was a fine book, but I never finished it. Never felt compelled to read more than a bit at a time, and by the time the library loan was up I didn't bother to renew it. Interesting enough but not compelling.
abbeyhar103's review against another edition
2.0
This would have been much more compelling at 200 pages.