Civil War Wives: The Lives and Times of Angelina Grimke Weld, Varina Howell Davis, and Julia Dent Grant
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Book Type: Hardcover
Angelina Grimke (1805-1879) was "an American political activist, woman's rights advocate, supporter of the women suffrage movement, and besides her sister, Sarah Moore Grimké, the only known white Southern woman to be a part of the abolition movement." She was mostly active in speaking before the Civil War. However, much later in life she regained "her voice" on issues.
Angelina married Theodore Weld, who was also involved in the abolition movement. However Angelina made enemies of many men in the abolition movement when she also began to speak on women's rights. Lewis Tappen, also a key figure in the abolition movement, when informed women were being appointed to the executive committee of the American Anti-Slavery Association, stated "to put a woman on the committee with men is contrary to the usages of civilized society." I just love that quote and will have to remember to repeat to some of my lady friends. And to be honest, although she and her husband shared all their interests in speaking and working for abolition, she was still required to do all the "women's work."
Varina Davis (1826-1906), the second wife of Jefferson Davis, was much younger than he. However, she was very intelligent and sociable. Although she had only two years schooling, mostly in how to be a good wife, an older friend, a judge, tutored her by lending her books and then involving her in discussion.
When she was 19, she accompanied her husband to Washington, as he was elected to Congress. His former father-in-law was now President Taylor. According to the book, whenever Varina would make an intelligent remark to the President, her husband would say, "My little wife is trying to be a statesman." Why she didn't murder him I don't know. But Jefferson persisted in putting her down every way he could and she learned to write to him in baby talk. She often ended her letters to him with "Winnie (his name for her) is Husband's baby and baby is your devoted Wife." This biography makes it clear Jefferson wanted his wife to cook, sew, raise children and keep her mouth shut. This view conflicts with that held by groups such as the Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Julia Grant (1826-1902) was the loving and devoted wife of Ulysses S. Grant. The author portrays her as a dutiful daughter and wife who did not dared to trespass the "glass ceiling" of the 19th century by commenting on things which were firmly established as being in a "man's world." It is well known U.S. Grant doted on his wife and in the few times she dared to confront him, the author lets us know Ulysses only gave in because he found her stand amusing. However, later in life, especially after her husband's death, she did some very bold things she probably wouldn't have contemplated in her youth. For example, when both she and Varina Davis were in the West Point area at the same time, she deliberately sought out Mrs Davis and they became friends.
While many of the 19th century limitations Berkin describes that these three women encountered certainly existed, I had to wonder if the author occasionally let her 'feminist' message take over from history. There were several areas in the text where I wish I had the citation the author referred to, as I wanted to see what the primary source really had to say.
The book, by Carol Berkin, is well written, and devotes about 100 pages to each of the three women. The section on Angelina Grimke is exceptional. I'm embarrassed I had not heard of her before.
On another note, I don't believe Berkin had the book reviewed by someone with an extensive background in Civil War history. This is a shame, as when speaking about Civil War leaders and events she often made stunningly stupid mistakes.
While I can remember several, one that I found somewhat amusing was her statement about John Brown's attempted uprising at Harpers Ferry. She states that the building Brown and his group took cover in "was assaulted by West Point graduate Robert E. Lee." Funny, I thought U.S. Marines made the assault, and Lee at this time was not only a colonel in the U.S. Army, but was also the former commandant of West Point.
Angelina married Theodore Weld, who was also involved in the abolition movement. However Angelina made enemies of many men in the abolition movement when she also began to speak on women's rights. Lewis Tappen, also a key figure in the abolition movement, when informed women were being appointed to the executive committee of the American Anti-Slavery Association, stated "to put a woman on the committee with men is contrary to the usages of civilized society." I just love that quote and will have to remember to repeat to some of my lady friends. And to be honest, although she and her husband shared all their interests in speaking and working for abolition, she was still required to do all the "women's work."
Varina Davis (1826-1906), the second wife of Jefferson Davis, was much younger than he. However, she was very intelligent and sociable. Although she had only two years schooling, mostly in how to be a good wife, an older friend, a judge, tutored her by lending her books and then involving her in discussion.
When she was 19, she accompanied her husband to Washington, as he was elected to Congress. His former father-in-law was now President Taylor. According to the book, whenever Varina would make an intelligent remark to the President, her husband would say, "My little wife is trying to be a statesman." Why she didn't murder him I don't know. But Jefferson persisted in putting her down every way he could and she learned to write to him in baby talk. She often ended her letters to him with "Winnie (his name for her) is Husband's baby and baby is your devoted Wife." This biography makes it clear Jefferson wanted his wife to cook, sew, raise children and keep her mouth shut. This view conflicts with that held by groups such as the Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Julia Grant (1826-1902) was the loving and devoted wife of Ulysses S. Grant. The author portrays her as a dutiful daughter and wife who did not dared to trespass the "glass ceiling" of the 19th century by commenting on things which were firmly established as being in a "man's world." It is well known U.S. Grant doted on his wife and in the few times she dared to confront him, the author lets us know Ulysses only gave in because he found her stand amusing. However, later in life, especially after her husband's death, she did some very bold things she probably wouldn't have contemplated in her youth. For example, when both she and Varina Davis were in the West Point area at the same time, she deliberately sought out Mrs Davis and they became friends.
While many of the 19th century limitations Berkin describes that these three women encountered certainly existed, I had to wonder if the author occasionally let her 'feminist' message take over from history. There were several areas in the text where I wish I had the citation the author referred to, as I wanted to see what the primary source really had to say.
The book, by Carol Berkin, is well written, and devotes about 100 pages to each of the three women. The section on Angelina Grimke is exceptional. I'm embarrassed I had not heard of her before.
On another note, I don't believe Berkin had the book reviewed by someone with an extensive background in Civil War history. This is a shame, as when speaking about Civil War leaders and events she often made stunningly stupid mistakes.
While I can remember several, one that I found somewhat amusing was her statement about John Brown's attempted uprising at Harpers Ferry. She states that the building Brown and his group took cover in "was assaulted by West Point graduate Robert E. Lee." Funny, I thought U.S. Marines made the assault, and Lee at this time was not only a colonel in the U.S. Army, but was also the former commandant of West Point.
