The Secret Eye: The Journal of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas 1848-1889 (Gender and American Culture)

About this book

The journal of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas spanning the years from 1848 to 1889 is rare for its treatment of both the Civil War and postbellum years and for its candor and detail in treating these eras. Thomas who was born to wealth and privilege and reared in the tradition of the southern belle tells of the hard days of war and the poverty brought on by emancipation and Reconstruction. Her entries illuminate experiences shared with thousands of other southern women.