Divided houses
Subtitle: gender and the Civil War
By: edited by Catherine Clinton and Nina Silber.
Contributors: Clinton, Catherine, 1952-; Silber, Nina.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 1992
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 418
Subjects: Sex role -- United States -- History -- 19th century; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Social aspects; United States -- Social conditions -- To 1865
Description: Divided Houses is the first book to show how the Civil War transformed gender roles and attitudes toward sexuality among Americans. This unique volume brings together a wide spectrum of critical viewpoints by newly emerging scholars as well as distinguished authors in the field to show how gender became a prism through which the political tensions of antebellum America were filtered and focused. Through the course of the book, many fascinating subjects are explored, from new "manly" responsibilities both black and white men had thrust upon them as soldiers, to women's roles in the guerrilla fighting, to the wartime dialogue on interracial sex. In addition, an incisive introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James McPherson helps place these various subjects within an overall historical context. Divided House sheds new light on the entire Civil War experience, demonstrating how themes of gender, class, race, and sexuality interacted to forge the beginnings of a new society.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [341]-351) and index.