Unvanquished

How Women of the South Survived the Civil War: In Their Own Words

By: Pippa Pralen

Narrated by: Virginia Ferguson

Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

Eyewitness accounts from over 50 diaries of southern women facing the hardships of the Civil War. Includes voices of slave women. As Yankee soldiers plundered, and starvation stalked the land, they hid food and heirlooms in wells and swamps. They watched Atlanta and Georgia burn and fed hungry children. Vivid accounts of women who witnessed the battles. Turned into food scavengers at the brink of starvation, southern women devised ways to feed their children. Genteel wives and southern aristocracy were catapulted out of their cozy worlds of privilege. They endured humiliation, terror, and grief, yet prevailed. Numerous diary entries. Includes frugal Civil War recipes: oatmeal pie, cabbage stew, "idiot's delight" cake, and Hoppin John. Their stories offer inspiration in resilience and determination.

©2016 Pippa Pralen (P)2019 Pippa Pralen

Often over looked aspect of the Civil War

I am glad to see more things coming out about the abuse and maltreatment of Southerners doing the waning days of the war.

This impacts the females of the South particularly hard. These were women whom had done house work their whole lives (free and slave women) suddenly thrust into the role of raising enough food for their families. High society and middle society, no one was spared.

What is most interesting is the treatment of the Northerners to the slaves. They were treated with just as much contempt as they had for “Johnny Reb”. Considering they were ultimately acting as liberators, what purpose did it serve to degrade and endanger them. Let alone leave them struggling to survive the following winter when you are supposed to be there to save them?

The performance was masterful. The readers voice was so convincing as all the different women. I was very shocked.

These lifelike voices couples with the fact that these are personal accounts, makes the story very life like. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to a Civil War buff, or women looking for something inspiring. While the context might have you thinking of them as players on the opposite team, it nevertheless is an epic of the human condition of determination, love, and devotion in terrible times.

The only down side to the recording was there were a couple times where the audio quality seemed poor. Almost like it was transferred from a cassette although I don’t think it was. Nothing major but I did notice it twice.

** I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an unbiased review**

Absolutely fascinating glimpse into a little examined bit of history

Wow, just wow...an absolutely fascinating look at a little examined chapter of history rom the point of view of the little thought of women of the south both gentry and slave alike. Tales of the hardships challenges and the bravery. And in some cases desperation of the women. Of acts of kindness as well as acts of debauchery. The recipes are very revealing...the list of prices in e south for food during the blockade....think of today’s prices...bacon was $20 a on, flour was $1500 a barrel,etc....look up on line the recipes for Lincoln coffee and idiots delight cake (civil war era recipe). Thank you to the author and the narrator both. Wonderful. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher

Tales of the Civil War

This was a fantastic telling of what the lives of the women looked like during the Civil War. The narration was incredible and really brought the stories to life. This is a compilation of journal entries and letters from the women of that era. Absolutely a must-read/listen for those history buffs out there.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Men weren't the only people who lived history

Having moved to the South from the West Coast in 1986, I didn't know much about history through the Civil War era. Over the years I learned much but there was still a gap. Thanks to people like Pippa Pralen, The gap in history that includes women is starting to close just a little. This is a must read (must listen to) book for anyone interested in the Civil War and that era. It is a collection of journal entries told from various different women. From the wealthy land owners to poor share croppers to women in slavery, there is so much to learn. These women proved that even when being knocked down, they could pull themselves up by the boot straps and do what needed to be done. Pralen did a very good job of piecing these stories together and Virginia Ferguson did a great job of being the voice for these many courageous women.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Wow, excellent!

What a fascinating book about many courageous and resourceful women during the time of the Civil War. Rich, poor, everyone had hardship during that time. These are some of the remarkable stories of courage, survival and perseverance. It's fascinating, and full of amazing stories. Highly recommended!!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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Surviving the Civil War

This was an interesting short book told from the viewpoint of women who lived through the Civil War. The stories were taken from diaries, letters and journals written by women who witnessed the atrocities of the War. Each one was heartbreaking in its own way, telling tales of hunger, depravation and slavery. Although nothing can really give a reader the true feelings of something like this, I felt like the author did a good job depicting the emotions of the times.

The narrator, Virginia Ferguson, does a pretty good job with her different voices for the women. Her performance kept me engaged and added a lot to the book. I was given the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this book by the author/narrator/publisher and chose to review it.