Civil War Wives: The Lives and Times of Angelina Grimke Weld, Varina Howell Davis, and Julia Dent Grant

by: Carol Berkin

Published by: Knopf Publishing Group

Reviewed by Sharron Stockhausen, MMA

We often find Civil War-era books about men and battles, but Carol Berkin’s book is about three women who were ahead of their time, married influential men, and made an impact on society we still feel today.

The research revealed three different avenues to create this book. Angelina Grimke Weld (1805–79) kept diaries and correspondence and delivered many speeches. Her story revealed itself as it occurred. Varina Howell Davis (1826–1906) kept some correspondence to give us a sense of her life at the time and finished her story from memory in her later years. The correspondence of Julia Dent Grant (1826–1902) didn’t survive, so her story came from her old-age memories.

The fourteenth and last child born to the wealthy Southern plantation Grimke family, Angelina not only worked against her family and for the abolition of slavery, she worked for women’s rights and alienated some abolitionists in the process. She retired from public life after marrying abolitionist Theodore Weld

Varina Howell was the second child (first daughter) born to the Natchez, Mississippi, society elite Howell family. She was properly educated and trained. Jefferson Davis married his soul mate, Sarah Knox, early in life, but she died three months after the wedding. He lived as a recluse for years. Eventually he courted and married Varina, who was eighteen years his junior. In spite of her youth and his criticism of her, she drew on her intelligence and strength to survive.

Julia Boggs Dent was born fifth of eight children in St. Louis, MO, the second home the Dent family maintained. Her mother was beautiful. Unfortunately, Julia inherited none of her mother’s good looks. However, she was indulged and spoiled and only knew of love from romance novels. She married Ulysses S. Grant and was a loving, supportive wife while his career moved from soldier to President.

Whether you’re a student of history, like women’s stories, or are enamored with the Civil War era, you will enjoy this book. Berkin does an outstanding job of melding the reader with the era. Block out some time and indulge yourself.

Armchair Interviews agrees.