Based on a true story. Carrie McGavock, The Widow of the South, did indeed take it upon herself to grieve the loss of so many young men in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, which took place on November 30, 1864. Nine thousand men lost their lives that day. She and her husband John eventually re-buried on their own land 1,481 Confederate soldiers killed at Franklin, when the family that owned the land on which the original shallow graves had been dug decided to plow it under and put it into cultivation.
Before the battle begins, Carrie's house is commandeered for a field hospital and all normal life is suspended. Carrie is anything but normal, however. She has buried three children, has two living children whom she pays little attention to, has turned the running of the house over to her slave, Mariah, and spends her time dressed in black, walking around in the dark or lying down lamenting her loss.
She is a morbid figure from the outset but becomes less so as the novel progresses. The death going on all around her shakes her out of her stupor, but death is definitely her comfort zone.
Growing up in South Carolina I found this book very telling. I love this time period and have fell in love with history. I call books that have history and fiction mixed together faction (fact and fiction mixed together). These are my favorite (faction) kind of books.
Gave this to a young man that graduated last year (2012)who was joining the Marines.
Before the battle begins, Carrie's house is commandeered for a field hospital and all normal life is suspended. Carrie is anything but normal, however. She has buried three children, has two living children whom she pays little attention to, has turned the running of the house over to her slave, Mariah, and spends her time dressed in black, walking around in the dark or lying down lamenting her loss.
She is a morbid figure from the outset but becomes less so as the novel progresses. The death going on all around her shakes her out of her stupor, but death is definitely her comfort zone.
Growing up in South Carolina I found this book very telling. I love this time period and have fell in love with history. I call books that have history and fiction mixed together faction (fact and fiction mixed together). These are my favorite (faction) kind of books.
Gave this to a young man that graduated last year (2012)who was joining the Marines.
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