Emma LeConte

LeConte specifically records her experiences in Columbia, South Carolina, during Sherman's devastating march through the South in this volume of her work. Reading something like this can develop the reader's understanding of the long lastingness of bitterness and hatred that follow war. I have heard many jokes about how "those Southerners just won't let go" and people wonder about the continued obsession with the Civil War or The War Between the States, depending on where you are from. There is information about the ethics of war, i.e. killing civilians, burning food supplies to cause starvation of civilians, etc. It seems silly to me in some sense, when we are talking about killing people, to wonder if we should save libraries and museums. Nevertheless, for those interested in that conversation this is an important volume.

I found the information about LeConte interesting from a feminist point of view, as she is educated and pushed toward intellectual growth by her father, among others. I found her to be highly intelligent and likable, which made it more shocking to hear her comments and beliefs about slaves. She truly believes this group is inferior and although that is not news in itself, it is the casualness with which it is conveyed that floors.

The introduction and forward to this volume are also full of good and helpful information, helping me to notice things in the diary that I might not have noticed otherwise (as all good intros should).

I was really bothered by reading [Twains Diary of Adam and Eve because of the way he spoke about women, and found myself thinking about how I would feel reading this if I were African American rather than Euro-American. It is disturbing AND important. Five stars for importance?… (meer)