A Year In The South: 1865: The True Story Of Four Ordinary People Who Lived Through The Most Tumultuous Twelve Months In American History (2004) - Plot & Excerpts
There's no way I could give this other than a 5. The research, the sources, the first person diary narrative connected, and the organizational skill to the material exposed was masterful.We have 4 different Southern USA individuals recording their daily movements and living arrangements for the entire year of 1865, divided into four three month increments. So you read the history of each individual for each season of the year. After 1865 has ended the author gives biography synopsis for the remaining years of their lives.This puts the picture for the defeated Southern USA states into realistic focus. How periods of near anarchy, mixed and revenge seeking loyalties, pure chance, and absolutely dire physical and mental states for provisions proceeded to play out in the year of the Civil War's ending. Really these people had no true measure of a semi-steady "now" until 1867 or 1868. It wasn't just the movement to new locations, but the possible choices to chance and further tragedy that centered this time in the defeated states. Infection, starvation, injury, isolation to any acceptance or supports- haggard and horrid memory compiled! New self-identity often at the core. Death of loved ones and no hope for knowledge to "what's next" follow consistently, even to the "faithful" in God seeking.It's a book I highly recommend. It will help you understand some of the legacies still existing and much of the long lasting connotations of immense mistrust.
The book was not written about a subject that I am overly interested in. That being said, the style of the book was very unique. I have not encountered a book that has taken this approach to recounting history through four perspectives season by season. The book provides a glimpse of four very different walks of life in the immediate postbellum period. The pov are that of a successful slave, a high class woman who is relegated to poverty, a confederate soldier turned religious scholar, and a minister who avoided war.I would suggest this book to anyone with a burgeoning interest in the South during the civil war. I gave it an extra star for its unique style of presentation. (If I were more interested in the subject this would probably be a 5 star book)
What do You think about A Year In The South: 1865: The True Story Of Four Ordinary People Who Lived Through The Most Tumultuous Twelve Months In American History (2004)?
An excellent book that follows the lives of four individuals during the end of the Civil War and reconstruction of a new United States. The four voices featured are from the writings of a slave, widowed women with children, Confederate solder and Southern Minister. Each person details their trials, faith, joys, sorrows, and view of the nation as it tries to heal and move forward. This book highlights the personal and political, social and racial, culture of the North and South, in a captivation and engaging read. This book is well researched and written resulting in a weaveing together each individual story while filling in historical facts.
—Terri
