According to Abbott, 'She never once prevaricated about her allegiance to the South, a brazenness that became a vital part of her costume: After all, she asked, how dangerous could such an open foe possibly be?' And yet so many men fell for her act that she became quite well known as a spy, earning the sobriquet 'Cleopatra of the Secession.' General Stonewall Jackson awarded her the Southern Cross of Honor for her contributions. A very attractive and flirtatious young lady, she used her feminine wiles to charm military secrets from Union officers and to pass freely between enemy picket lines. Belle Boyd (1844-1900) was just 17 years old when she shot her first Yankee (a Union soldier who was molesting her mother). Our four heroines came from both sides of the struggle two were Unionists, two Confederates.

The author deftly illustrates that their contributions to the struggle were significant and did, indeed, alter the progress of the war these women weren't merely bit characters in the bloody drama, but important players who impacted the course of history. Each, in her own way, played a vital role during the conflict, risking life and limb for victory. Karen Abbott's latest foray into history, Liar Temptress, Soldier, Spy, introduces readers to four remarkable women who were active participants in the United States' Civil War, fighting figuratively and literally for what they perceived as an important cause. This well-researched and seamless narrative delves into the lives of four heroic women who were a vital part of the Civil War.

Liar temptress soldier spy review