The Dancing Delilahs: Pauline Cushman & Antonia Ford, Civil War Spies

by Pamela Bauer Mueller

One spy romanced and married her captor. Another, recruited by the Secret Service, packed a pistol and a hard punch. Antonia Ford and Pauline Cushman were as daring yet desirable as today’s action movie heroines. Breaking every rule of genteel society, they joined one side in the conflict while stealthily serving the other.

Pauline, an actress by trade, used her skills to enchant army officers as she gathered information on their troops, becoming the only female spy sentenced to hang. Her life—a medley of despair and triumph—was her best role. Antonia, an expert at reading infantry information, used her beauty, charm and character for her beloved cause. Despite dodging bullets and injury, she too was captured and imprisoned.

Each woman excelled in speaking for one side while acting for the other. Both earned the rank of “Major.” What could inspire two ordinary women to give up beloved children while
risking life and limb? How could they charm battle-hardened soldiers into divulging crucial military plans on one day, and then withstand personal loss and danger the next? Be transported into the real-life world of two legendary women warriors who changed the course of the American Civil War—and our future—forever.

“A mesmerizing tale! A story of deep patriotism, deception and duplicity, tragedy and treachery. An unbridled love discovered in the midst of national turmoil. Once again Pamela Bauer Mueller has rewarded her legions of readers with her sharp insights, hugely entertaining literary style, and keen utilization of superb and accurate historical research
that makes her novels a veritable delight.”
—Buddy Sullivan, Coastal Georgia Historian, Award Winning Author

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2016

About the author

Pamela Bauer Mueller was raised in Oregon. She has worked as a flight attendant, commercial model and actress, English and Spanish teacher and a U.S. Customs Inspector. She now lives on Jekyll Island Georgia with her husband Michael and their cat Morgan Maurice.

Pamela's children and young adult books have awarded her numerous awards, including the 2006/2008 and the 2009 Georgia Author of the Year titles, three Mom's Choice and Children’s Choice gold medals, the Independent Publisher Gold Book awards and other national awards with Writer's Digest and ForeWord magazines. In her seventh historical novel, she recounts the life story of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, an unintended and inadvertent participant in the Lincoln assassination story.

Reviews

[Kyla Stan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting historical novel, and I marveled at both women and their courageous feats. However, I feel as if most of the novel focused on Antonia. I think it wouldve been best of each woman had their own section or separate book. Antonia seemed to be the main focus with small chapters of Pauline. Still, I enjoyed this novel!

[Jim Kunkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Well written.

You are taken on an incredible journey through the lives of two civil war female spies. One Northern, one Southern. An amazing story to follow, chronicling there lives through and after the war.

[Jacqueline Dechand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the plot! The characters well engaging, and I loved how Antonia was able to enchant her captor to falling in love with her. Pauline's story was equally as exciting her wit and sense of adventure.

[Melinda Stuk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but I was not fond of the author's style.

[lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of two female spies during the Civil War, one for each side of the conflict. Related in novel form, detailing their lives and their exploits assisting their respective sides during the war.