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nglofile 's review for:
An accessible, character-driven history that spotlights four remarkable women during the Civil War and the extraordinary contributions each made to her cause. I appreciated the questions this work raised about what merits note in history, why lives of women are automatically marginalized to 'women's history', and most especially some of the post-publication debate about if there is only one creditable way in which to write and study the past. Lively discussion potential.
Each of the characters chosen as archetypes is fascinating in her own way. One quality shared equally is that of brazenness, but how it manifests veers widely. The choice to structure the book chronologically, toggling among the four women, holds logic, but I struggled to keep details attributed to the correct lady. Personally, I would have preferred framing chapters that allowed each life to unfold turn-by-turn, especially since the different threads don't offer the eventual satisfaction of intertwining.
Abbott attempts to head off questions of embellishment by explaining all dialogue is lifted from diaries, letters, and other primary sources. In spite of the fact others have questioned this assertion, I did find myself marveling both at the scholarship she amassed and at the humanizing impact of incorporating such excerpts.
The style is quite easy, but there were a few stylistic choices that grated. Prime example: the descriptive note that at a certain point one character's blood literally(!) boiled in her veins. Sorry. I simply can't let that pass unremarked.
audiobook note: Karen White voices each woman's story with assurance, empathy, and understatement. Wisely letting the narrative take center stage, she trusts the storytelling and the natural drama to keep reader/listener interest.
Each of the characters chosen as archetypes is fascinating in her own way. One quality shared equally is that of brazenness, but how it manifests veers widely. The choice to structure the book chronologically, toggling among the four women, holds logic, but I struggled to keep details attributed to the correct lady. Personally, I would have preferred framing chapters that allowed each life to unfold turn-by-turn, especially since the different threads don't offer the eventual satisfaction of intertwining.
Abbott attempts to head off questions of embellishment by explaining all dialogue is lifted from diaries, letters, and other primary sources. In spite of the fact others have questioned this assertion, I did find myself marveling both at the scholarship she amassed and at the humanizing impact of incorporating such excerpts.
The style is quite easy, but there were a few stylistic choices that grated. Prime example: the descriptive note that at a certain point one character's blood literally(!) boiled in her veins. Sorry. I simply can't let that pass unremarked.
audiobook note: Karen White voices each woman's story with assurance, empathy, and understatement. Wisely letting the narrative take center stage, she trusts the storytelling and the natural drama to keep reader/listener interest.