What do you think?
Undaunted Heart: The True Love Story of a Southern Belle and a Yankee General
Suzy Barile, a great-great-granddaughter of Ella Swain and Smith Atkins, tells their story, separating facts from the elaborate embellishments the famous courtship and marriage have taken on over the generations. Interwoven throughout Undaunted Heart are excerpts from Ella's never-before-published letters to her parents that reveal a loving marriage that transcended differences and scandal.
260 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2009
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 3, 2010
I like this book because it's written by the great-great-granddaughter of Ella Swain and Smith Atkins. Ella was the daughter of the president of the University of North Carolina - and Smith Atkins was a Union general who came to Ella's father's house to inform him that the town was under Union occupation.
Against this unlikely backdrop began a passionate and controversial love story still vivid in town lore. When President Swain's daughter Ella met the Union general, life for these two young people who had spent the war on opposite sides was forever altered.
This famous courtship and marriage, needless to say, caused quite a stir. Interwoven throughout Undaunted Heart are excerpts from Ella's never-before-published letters to her parents that reveal a loving marriage that transcended differences and scandal
Against this unlikely backdrop began a passionate and controversial love story still vivid in town lore. When President Swain's daughter Ella met the Union general, life for these two young people who had spent the war on opposite sides was forever altered.
This famous courtship and marriage, needless to say, caused quite a stir. Interwoven throughout Undaunted Heart are excerpts from Ella's never-before-published letters to her parents that reveal a loving marriage that transcended differences and scandal
June 22, 2023
FABULOUS! Yankee General from Illinois meets and marries a Southern belle.
January 5, 2010
"Undaunted Heart" gave an interesting look at post-American-Civil-War conditions and how citizens of both the North and the South felt about the changes occurring around them. The book was an easy read and covered details of Ella and Smith's life before they met (including how Ella and Smith felt about the War and the issue of slavery), how they met, and their life after they married. Their life together contained many sorrows, but the marriage was a happy one. Letters, neighbor's journals, and newspaper reports were frequently quoted, giving an inside, personal look at events.
The book briefly touched on the greater issues of the time period--the hardships faced due to shortages and prejudice, the problems with unifying the nation after the War, and how various people dealt with the freed slaves. But these issues were only revealed where they impacted the lives of Ella and Smith and their families.
The level of vivid detail was excellent in some parts (especially after Ella and Smith moved North and she wrote vivid accounts of her life in her letters to her parents) and much less in others (like the few known details about how Ella and Smith met and courted, which mainly seemed to come from a neighbor's journal and a few surviving love poems).
There were black and white pictures of Ella's family, Ella, Smith, and the surviving children from Ella and Smith's marriage. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the post-Civil-War era as seen through the eyes of a well-to-do family in both the North (Ella and Smith) and the South (Ella's parents).
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
The book briefly touched on the greater issues of the time period--the hardships faced due to shortages and prejudice, the problems with unifying the nation after the War, and how various people dealt with the freed slaves. But these issues were only revealed where they impacted the lives of Ella and Smith and their families.
The level of vivid detail was excellent in some parts (especially after Ella and Smith moved North and she wrote vivid accounts of her life in her letters to her parents) and much less in others (like the few known details about how Ella and Smith met and courted, which mainly seemed to come from a neighbor's journal and a few surviving love poems).
There were black and white pictures of Ella's family, Ella, Smith, and the surviving children from Ella and Smith's marriage. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the post-Civil-War era as seen through the eyes of a well-to-do family in both the North (Ella and Smith) and the South (Ella's parents).
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
September 11, 2015
Since I'm currently reading a book with slave narratives, I found it difficult to really sympathize with any of the problems the people had (although the untimely deaths in the family were really unfortunate). I didn't think the author included enough information about the racism of the day, though it was mentioned several times. For example when one hears of a Secretary of State, they would assume them to be reputable but in one instance I knew the NC SoS she mentioned was also the head of the NC KKK.
Despite this, I found it a really fascinating read simply because the locations described were roads I travel on every day. It's weird to think about a Confederate surrender site being on Raleigh Road, which is my I-40 commute exit. I loved learning more about Chapel Hill, UNC, and Raleigh's history. I definitely identified with the beautiful descriptions of CH but then again, thinking of CH in a day without organized sports or basketball is a bit foreign.
Despite this, I found it a really fascinating read simply because the locations described were roads I travel on every day. It's weird to think about a Confederate surrender site being on Raleigh Road, which is my I-40 commute exit. I loved learning more about Chapel Hill, UNC, and Raleigh's history. I definitely identified with the beautiful descriptions of CH but then again, thinking of CH in a day without organized sports or basketball is a bit foreign.
March 1, 2011
Wow ... why did my mother-in-law have to choose a book (for our local book club) that required kleenex? This was a wonderful love story that bridged a whole world of controversy between the north and the south at a time when that animosity was fresh. Yet their love survived repeated trials and heartaches, many separations for various reasons, and wow ... what a love story. What a life story. While I am not usually drawn to non-fiction written in this style, I couldn't help but love the story of a Yankee General (from Freeport, IL, just a few miles down the road from where I live) and his southern Belle. Great story! I'm anxious to discuss it at book club next month.
June 3, 2014
This book was an enjoyable and quick read. The author spoke at a lecture series at our golf club. I was intrigued by the fact that she is a great, great, great grandaughter of one of the characters. Living in Chapel Hill I particularly enjoyed references to our church, landmarks on Franklin Street, and the inside info on UNC's financial problems. The idea of a Union officer and a young southern daughter marrying was a rare experience.
I was annoyed by the fact that 1/3 of the book consisted of notes pertaining to the story. An abbreviated list of notes would have taken just a few pages. I also thought the book would benefit from including a family tree.
I was annoyed by the fact that 1/3 of the book consisted of notes pertaining to the story. An abbreviated list of notes would have taken just a few pages. I also thought the book would benefit from including a family tree.
July 6, 2012
A fascinating part of North Carolina history. Reminds us of the unsung role David Swain played in the days after the Civil War - his diplomatic surrender likely saved our state's treasures from looting and burning, among other things.
I invited Suzy Barile (descendant of the Ella Swain, the book's title character) to speak at a DAR meeting. What a fascinating speaker - she brought all kinds of family memorabila, which made the story come to life.
I invited Suzy Barile (descendant of the Ella Swain, the book's title character) to speak at a DAR meeting. What a fascinating speaker - she brought all kinds of family memorabila, which made the story come to life.
February 9, 2010
Sometimes truth is stranger, and more romantic, than fiction. A wonderful love story about two people who would never have met without the Civil War. Yes, there is history here as well, but mainly their love story, beautifully told. I enjoyed the book thoroughly.
November 30, 2010
In all fairness, this was a book club selection and not something I would have read on my own. I found it pretty boring and tedious to read, but for someone who is more of a history buff--this might be a great read!
July 2, 2010
If you love history...especially NC history this is a quick and interesting book to read. Those of you who are Chapel Hill fans would love it!
August 11, 2010
I enjoyed this book.
In today's society it's hard to wrap your head around the scandal this marriage caused!
And the hardships of life at the time are heartbreaking.
Great read.
In today's society it's hard to wrap your head around the scandal this marriage caused!
And the hardships of life at the time are heartbreaking.
Great read.
March 25, 2012
A historical nonfiction about an important family from North Carolina. As a reader my heart went out to the mothers for all their pain and suffering.
March 18, 2013
This is a great history, especially for those of us who live in North Carolina.
August 1, 2010
Beautiful true story. I could not put it down.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews