Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #208012 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 480 pages

Synopsis
The original diary of Mary Chesnut, an important work that was repeatedly quoted during the famous television documentary The Civil War, provides an insightful look into how the war affected the daily lives of the people of the South.

Customer Reviews

Intimate account of war's effects on the homefront
The keeper of this diary writes in an intimate and honest manner about herself and those around her, and about Southern hopes for victory or at least peaceful co-existence. The diary entries draw you in to her world. You feel like you are chatting with her in the parlor or at her desk as she relates the events of the day, what famous figures she dined or went riding with, etc. Very enjoyable and poignant to read. This was a brave woman who did her best under consistently deteriorating circumstances. I found her comments about her marriage particularly surprising and honest given the standards and social mores of the time. Her husband seems emotionally remote and she chides him for being so. Definitely not given to "hero worshipping," the author gives her honest opinions - good and bad - of just about everyone around her. I recommend this book, even if you aren't a Civil War buff.