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The Children of Bladensfield
Book by Evelyn Ward
141 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 5, 2007
I have a copy, and the title is actually "The Children of Bladensfield" [not "Bladensford"]
This book is a treasure. It's the best example I know of personal family history being recorded by an elder for the benefit of those younger following.
Evelyn wrote this toward the end of her long life, and it chronicles her youth and childhood, vividly showing what it was like growing up in Virginia in her family during the Civil War.
This is a very special book, and reading it is a wonderful experience.
This book is a treasure. It's the best example I know of personal family history being recorded by an elder for the benefit of those younger following.
Evelyn wrote this toward the end of her long life, and it chronicles her youth and childhood, vividly showing what it was like growing up in Virginia in her family during the Civil War.
This is a very special book, and reading it is a wonderful experience.
February 5, 2025
I stumbled upon this book because Bladensfield was mentioned in Ghost Stories of Virginia by Dan Afar. Although out of print, I found an excellent copy on ebay. And yes, there are brief mentions of ghosts existing in the house.
The author, who was interested in writing early in life, shares her memories of her childhood during the Civil War. She tells of the events wonderfully, in factual, in emotional, and in some cases poetic detail. Life was difficult and frightening when the Yankees were around as one of the tactics to win was to destroy the things any Southerner depended upon to live. She lost two beloved brothers to war. She saw her mother worry and grieve and witnessed her father lose his wealth and become forever depressed. Evelyn Ward, as a child, saw the sorrow in the transaction of human beings. She didn't seem to see the possibility of this being reflected in those of her own household, loving and playing with the adults and children who were enslaved to her father but not pondering that they might feel a desire to live otherwise.
But the tone of the book is generally upbeat, as Evelyn Ward was a child. She also writes of ordinary days of work and play, of the relationships that meant so much to her, and of the landscape of Bladensfield.
Her great, great nephew (Peter Matthiessen) completes the book with a section of his own, filling in some details of family that lived in the house later on.
The author, who was interested in writing early in life, shares her memories of her childhood during the Civil War. She tells of the events wonderfully, in factual, in emotional, and in some cases poetic detail. Life was difficult and frightening when the Yankees were around as one of the tactics to win was to destroy the things any Southerner depended upon to live. She lost two beloved brothers to war. She saw her mother worry and grieve and witnessed her father lose his wealth and become forever depressed. Evelyn Ward, as a child, saw the sorrow in the transaction of human beings. She didn't seem to see the possibility of this being reflected in those of her own household, loving and playing with the adults and children who were enslaved to her father but not pondering that they might feel a desire to live otherwise.
But the tone of the book is generally upbeat, as Evelyn Ward was a child. She also writes of ordinary days of work and play, of the relationships that meant so much to her, and of the landscape of Bladensfield.
Her great, great nephew (Peter Matthiessen) completes the book with a section of his own, filling in some details of family that lived in the house later on.
March 27, 2010
Pleasant book. Memories of the Civil war by a woman who was a child in Virginia at the time. Quick read and entertaining--doesn't require a lot of concentration--great for keeping in the car and reading at the doctors or lacrosse practice. (Goodreads has the title wrong... It is The Children of Bladensfield not Bladensford).
March 6, 2026
The title is, The Children of Bladensfield.
October 23, 2012
Yes, it is 'Bladensfield' instead of 'Bladensford'. I loved the way it made history so real. I was very impressed with it. Really took me there.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews