Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
by Allan Gurganus
published
August 19th 1989
by Alfred a Knopf
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binding
Hardcover, 718 pages
literary awards
Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction (1991)
isbn
0394545370
(isbn13: 9780394545370)
description
An astonishing first novel about the Civil War and its aftermath in our own time, in the raucous voice of a woman who lived through it all.
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 511)
Read in August, 2008
I could not finish this book. For the most part, every page was a chore. The few times there was a story relayed from the husband's Civil War experience, I was engaged. Otherwise, I found the main character far too abrasive and obnoxious to enjoy myself. She might be very entertaining to sit and talk with, or listen to on a radio program, but for some reason, by reading in this format we had a personality conflict.
Additionally, there was heavy focus on subjects that didn't feel pertine...more
Additionally, there was heavy focus on subjects that didn't feel pertine...more
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Read in January, 1994
Possibly the longest book I've read where, when I finished it, I wanted to go back and read it again. As a Northerner, at the time I read it, I was rather clueless about the Civil War and the South. I'm mildly more clued-in these days, but this book helped open up a voice and an attitude for me that had not been there before.
The writing is dramatic, to the point where I'm sure some readers found it too far over the top to deal with. I have read the "scene" of the heroine's mother's...more
The writing is dramatic, to the point where I'm sure some readers found it too far over the top to deal with. I have read the "scene" of the heroine's mother's...more
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1 comments
I absolutely loved this book. I read it after watching the mini-series starring Diane Lane, Donald Sutherland and Cecily Tyson. It was very well written, Lucy Marsden is a likeable protagonist-her life's adventures are heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time.
The historical detail was fascinating-at one point the kids have pin worms and she has to get up at night, shine a light on the kids butt and wipe the worms eggs off. Disgusting, but interesting. Lucy has gumption and spunk and her li...more
The historical detail was fascinating-at one point the kids have pin worms and she has to get up at night, shine a light on the kids butt and wipe the worms eggs off. Disgusting, but interesting. Lucy has gumption and spunk and her li...more
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The title intrigued me. What would she have to say? A lot. It's the story of her marriage to a Confederate soldier who never got over losing his best friend. But it's also the story of her mother; her housekeeper, who used to be the narrator's husband's slave; her husband; and others. In fact, I thought about including it on my short story bookshelf. Some of the anecdotes were very good, others seemed to drag on forever. I didn't think the slave's story was ever going to end. It's hit or...more
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recommends it for:
Southern bookclubs and anyone looking for great literature.
Officially, what I consider a tome, Gurganus' masterpiece, is one of the finest examples of historical fiction, and particularly the Civil War.
Forget the dreadful made-for-television movie, forget 'Gone With The Wind'. There is a langorous chapter midway into the story that depicts Sherman's March to the sea, told by the plantation owners and slaves who watched the plumes of smoke from distant homes, knowing their lives would be burned out from under them very soon. The images evoked in th...more
Forget the dreadful made-for-television movie, forget 'Gone With The Wind'. There is a langorous chapter midway into the story that depicts Sherman's March to the sea, told by the plantation owners and slaves who watched the plumes of smoke from distant homes, knowing their lives would be burned out from under them very soon. The images evoked in th...more
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Read in January, 2006
This is one of the worst books I have ever read. I hated, hated, hated it. To be fair, I quit about 3/4 of the way through. Though it's told from a woman's perspective, it was written by a man, and he gets so much wrong. And tedious! And the little coloquialisms he uses that are supposed to be charming - after the 100th repetition they really lose the charm. Yuck.
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Read in January, 2008
About as long as Gone With the Wind and same subject matter, but really great story telling. For some reason I am always baffled by books by men that speak through a woman as narrator. This one was done really well and I may have forgotten that the author was a man except for the 6x8 headshot of him on the back cover. I wish he had rethought that.
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Read in January, 2007
Fascinating story ! Good historical novel. Gurganus puts
you INSIDE the events--one boy's struggle with the Civil
War, continuing throughout his life into his old age, as
told by his widow recalling the past. Much to learn about
the war and slavery and the post-war time events through
very real characters.
you INSIDE the events--one boy's struggle with the Civil
War, continuing throughout his life into his old age, as
told by his widow recalling the past. Much to learn about
the war and slavery and the post-war time events through
very real characters.
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Read in January, 1989
My "aunt" turned me on to this book as soon as her book club finished reading it. I really enjoyed the characters, the child wife while equally hating and loving her old husband when they were married, listened to his stories (and later retells them) of being a child soldier in the civil war.
A great read!
A great read!
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in September, 2007
I suppose I just didn't give this book a chance, but I could not seem to read more than three pages at a time. That set me up for never completing a book with this MANY pages; so I put it aside 'till perhaps another date because I have others I really want to read. No real rating on my part.....
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Read in January, 1999
The premise is that a very old woman is being interviewed about having been the very young bride of an older man who was a young soldier in the Civil War. Fantastic narratives span several generations. I really got sucked into each phase of the story, fell in love with each character.
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Read in September, 2008
I just bought this book at the used book store in Montgomery.... I saw the movie a very long time ago and now I'm very interested in reading it.
***Very slow! Couldn't finish it.... I got about 1/2 way thru and just put it down (which is VERY unusual for me)***
***Very slow! Couldn't finish it.... I got about 1/2 way thru and just put it down (which is VERY unusual for me)***
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4 comments
This is the 1st book i read by this Author. The author has dealt with lot of serious issues in a "Old age" wise way.
The Character of " Captain" surely stays with you and makes you realise the emotinal after affects of war on young souls...
The Character of " Captain" surely stays with you and makes you realise the emotinal after affects of war on young souls...
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Read in September, 2008
I think this book is excellent and I love the narrative style, but I had to give it 4 stars because some parts just DRAG. For example, I don't think The Tribe That Answers should have been left out, but there's no way she told that story in 37 minutes.
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I HATED this book. The writing was terrible and difficult to read, often with long passages that added nothing to the characters or the story. I hated this book so much that I stopped reading it after about half-way through the book.
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Read in March, 2008
This book is totally a sit down with an old lady in a nursing home. It is really a trip to read. I enjoyed it though it took a bit to get used to the vernacular. Realize this old lady is "gonna spill it all." So you are forwarned.
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If you have any interest in the Civil War--or even if you don't--you'll enjoy this book. It gives great insight into the past and how the women back then had to deal with all kinds of things, in society and in their personal lives.
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Read in January, 1991
recommends it for:
historical fiction fans
A very young woman marries a very elderly Confederate vet, and the novel focuses on their life together and on his life before they met. Allan Gurganus is a master storyteller, and it doesn't get much better than this.
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recommends it for:
julie
my little southern belle, you must get this and read it. it's been years since i did, but it took him ten years to write it and it's a masterpiece.
all of his other books are crap, so don't bother with them.
all of his other books are crap, so don't bother with them.
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Read in November, 2008
recommends it for:
Serious students of the subjects
When you are ready to grow up, read this book for an in-depth education about war, interpersonal relationships, slavery, selfishness, and courage. Some chapters new the end became too long.
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