Born in the last year of the war, by the late 1880s she became known as the daughter of the confederacy. Varina davis and her daughter varina anne davis moved to new york city from mississippi. The cold mountain author has returned to the civil war for this novel of. Charles frazier, author of cold mountain, has written varina, historical fiction about jefferson davis wife. Davis instead pursues a career in politics and is eventually appointed president of the confederacy, placing varina at the whitehot center of one of the darkest moments in. Varina, the titular character in the book, is varina davis, the second wife of president jefferson davis. And charles fraziers new novel varina offers a fictional version of a reallife confederate. First edition of this biography of jefferson davis written by his wife, with two facsimile letters, two folding. In his powerful new novel, charles frazier returns to the time and place of cold mountain, vividly bringing to life the chaos and devastation of the civil war her marriage prospects limited, teenage varina howell agrees to wed the mucholder widower jefferson davis, with whom. She believed the civil war was a doomed enterprise for the south, and after the war she often said that the right side won. She moved to the presidential mansion in richmond, virginia, in mid1861, and lived there for the remainder of the american civil war. Author charles frazier reveals why he decided to write about the wife of jefferson davis march 28, 2018 6.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Despite the ostensibly collegial relationship shared by the two men, varina acknowledges that its underlying rationale was rooted in the threat of the whipping post, and that the shadow of that post traced divisions clear and precise as. Jefferson davis expresident of the confederate states of america. Varina tells the story of the wife of jefferson davis, the president of the confederacy, from her younger days when she met and married davis in mississippi, to her later years living as a writer. She died on october 16, 1906, of pneumonia, in her apartment, which overlooked central park. The author has a wonderful talent to make the 1860s live again in landscapes and reverential traditions of the old south. For this highly intelligent, acutely observant woman, loyalty did not come easily. Early life daviss parents moved to mississippi when he was a boy. Varina imagines the life of jefferson daviss widow in. Apr 30, 2018 a widower twice her age in a state of perpetual mourning for his first wife, jefferson davis was a girdled tree, varina realized, bark cut and peeled away past the living flesh. More interesting than the testimonials to jeff daviss character are the precivil war national and southern figures who swirl in and out of the daviss lives. In his powerful new novel, charles frazier returns to the time and place of cold mountain, vividly bringing to life the chaos and devastation of the civil war her marriage prospects limited, teenage varina howell agrees to wed the mucholder widower jefferson davis, with whom she expects the secure life of a mississippi landowner. Expresident of the confederate states of america, varina davis library of american civilization. Jefferson davis was the president of the confederacy, and varina davis was his wife the.
When charles frazier decided to write about the life of varina davis, he knew faced a challenge. Varina imagines the life of jefferson daviss widow in the aftermath. As the daughter of a dissolute father with a vanished fortune, the teenage varina accepts marriage to the much older widower jefferson davis a matter of expedience rather than true love. Cashin has written a smashing studythe first scholarly biography of varina howell davis 18261906, wife of confederate president jefferson davis. He answered questions over the phone about his new book. In his powerful fourth novel, charles frazier returns to the time and place of cold mountain, vividly bringing to life the chaos and devastation of the civil war. At 18, varina howell marries the kentucky native and mississippi landowner jefferson davis, a melancholic widower 19. The first lady of the south, varina davis, made the best of her life one day at a time. The widow of jefferson davis, president of the confederate states of america, isnt well known. Davis instead pursues a career in politics and is eventually appointed president of the confederacy, placing varina at the whitehot center of one of the darkest moments in american historyculpable regardless of her intentions.
Jim was separated from the davises after their capture in may 1865. A novel paperback or softback by davis, varina anne jefferson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Charles frazier gives jefferson davis wife a voice in. Varina imagines the life of jefferson daviss widow in the. Her marriage prospects limited, teenage varina howell agrees to wed the mucholder widower jefferson. Varina davis supported herself writing for joseph pulitzers newspaper, new york world. The much younger second wife of jefferson davis, who presided over an imaginary country called the confederate states of america, varina. In some ways, varina can be read as an antidote to gone with the wind.
Her husband, jefferson davis, one of the grossest people who ever lived. Apr 23, 2018 the other concerns a seemingly fraternal bond between jefferson davis and his longtime slave pemberton. Author charles frazier reveals why he decided to write about. Expresident of the confederate states of america, volume 1 jefferson davis. Late in april 1865, as the davis family fled southward from richmond, varina davis wrote to her husband. Charles fraziers new novel relates the untold story of varina davis, wife of jefferson. Apr 03, 2018 the woman is varina daviswho, as jefferson davis wife, was once the first lady of the confederate states of america. Apr 05, 2018 in some ways, varina can be read as an antidote to gone with the wind. Her only other optionto take her own life with the tiny revolver given to her by her husband, confederate president jefferson daviswas one she chose not to embrace. It is based on the life of varina howell davis, the wife of the president of the confederacy jefferson davis. A century after varina daviss death in 1906, joan e. Book overview sooner or later, history asks, which side were you on. Varina anne winnie davis june 27, 1864 september 18, 1898 was an american author who was most known as the youngest daughter of president jefferson davis of the confederate states of america and varina howell davis.
In varina, a confederate contemplates her complicity. Frazier invites us to consider the degree to which varina, like austens heroines, is living in an age when most of her choices are made for her. Mar 30, 2018 varina tells the story of the wife of jefferson davis, the president of the confederacy, from her younger days when she met and married davis in mississippi, to her later years living as a writer. In charles fraziers novel varina, a latelife meeting with a former slave triggers painful memories for the much younger wife of jefferson davis. The first lady of the confederacy considers her painful. Varina anne banks howell davis may 7, 1826 october 16, 1906 was the only first lady of the confederate states of america, and the longtime second wife of president jefferson davis.
Varina, charles fraziers fourth novel, presents the story of varina howell davis, the 20yearsyounger wife of the martyrdomenchanted president of the confederacy, jefferson davis. Varina the character is a fictional triumph, and the real mrs. Apr 03, 2018 charles frazier, author of cold mountain, has written varina, historical fiction about jefferson davis wife. When jefferson davis became president of the confederacy, his wife, varina howell davis, reluctantly became the first lady. Mar 28, 2018 author charles frazier reveals why he decided to write about the wife of jefferson davis march 28, 2018 6. Apr, 2018 varina, charles fraziers fourth novel, presents the story of varina howell davis, the 20yearsyounger wife of the martyrdomenchanted president of the confederacy, jefferson davis. Cashin has written a masterly work, the first definitive biography of this truly modern, but deeply conflicted, woman. The author has a wonderful talent to make the 1860s live again in.
Apr 18, 2018 varina imagines the life of jefferson daviss widow in the aftermath of the civil war varina can be seen as a reminder that a national reckoning over the legacy of slavery has yet to take. Author charles frazier reveals why he decided to write. Apr 10, 2018 and charles fraziers new novel varina offers a fictional version of a reallife confederate. Thick octavo, original pale blue cloth, patterned endpapers.
This book claims to be the first biography of varina davis written by a professional scholar, and it seems to be the only one written. If you dont read this book, just trust mehes the worst. Yet, modern americans remember jefferson davis only from the years 1861 onward when he was elected president of the confederacy and, after the war, became the living symbol. The woman is varina daviswho, as jefferson davis wife, was once the first lady of the confederate states of america. The book is written as a counterpoint to the villification davis endured in the defeat of the confederacy. Varina and the children were going to seek refuge in carolina. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Jul 12, 2018 it relates the reunion between varina davis, longlived widow of the confederacys only president, and jimmy limber, the urchin she rescued from a beating, spiriting him away like a whipped. Davis instead pursues a career in politics and is eventually appointed president of the confederacy, placing varina at the whitehot center of one of the darkest moments in american history culpable.
It relates the reunion between varina davis, longlived widow of the confederacys only president, and jimmy limber, the urchin she rescued from a beating, spiriting him away like a whipped. Varina is a beautifully written historical novel by charles frazier, author of cold mountain. It is the story of varina davis, wife of jefferson davis, president of the confederacy, during the american civil war. Charles frazier explains how jefferson davis family. This paper paints with a broad brush, for it covers the final days of the war between the states in the capitol cities of richmond and shreveport, including the attempt by confederate president jefferson davis to travel the 900 miles between the two in april and may of 1865. Charles fraziers new novel relates the untold story of. She is the first and only first lady of the confederate states of america. Though ailing and feeble, jeff was going to the field. Her marriage prospects limited, teenage varina howell agrees to wed the mucholder widower jefferson davis, with whom she expects the secure life of a mississippi landowner.
Apr 05, 2018 varina davis 18261906 was another matter. Varina howell davis, the inspiration for charles fraziers new historical novel, was born at the briars, this house near natchez, miss. Frazier comes to seattle on april 10 to talk about varina, his fourth novel, at the elliott bay book co. With her marriage prospects limited, teenage varina howell agrees to wed the mucholder widower jefferson davis, with whom she expects a life of security as a mississippi landowner. Charles fraziers new novel relates the untold story of varina davis. Charles frazier gives jefferson davis wife a voice in varina. Jefferson davis, 180889, american statesman, president of the southern confederacy, b. It is the story of varina davis, wife of jefferson davis, president of the. Jefferson davis expresident first edition jefferson. As she moves back and forth in her own life story, v recalls scenes from her childhood in natchez, mississippi, and her marriage to a widower more than twice her age.
In march 1865, the day she dreaded but expected arrived and varina davis said her goodbye to her husband. His superb new novel, varina, is about the eventful life of jefferson daviss second wife. This book claims to be the first biography of varina davis written by a professional scholar, and it seems to be the only one written in the last 50 years, so it is of great historical value. Varina imagines the life of jefferson daviss widow in the aftermath of the civil war varina can be seen as a reminder that a national reckoning over the legacy of slavery has yet to take. At 18, varina howell marries the mississippi landowner jefferson davis, a melancholic widower 19 years her senior. He was given a classical education at transylvania univ. In his powerful new novel, charles frazier returns to the time and place of cold mountain, vividly bringing to life the chaos and devastation of the civil war. Varina howell davis 18261906 contributed by encyclopedia virginia staff. We first meet her in 1906 near the end of her life, when varina resembles later photographs of queen victoria, much taller, but with similar. Varina howell davis was the second wife of confederate president jefferson davis and the first lady of the confederacy during the american civil war 18611865. Proslavery but also prounion, varina davis was inhibited by her role as confederate first lady and unable to reveal her true convictions.
Charles frazier explains how jefferson davis family escaped. List of books and articles about jefferson davis online. Jefferson davis graduated from west point, served with honor in the mexicanamerican war, was elected to the house and senate, and was franklin pierces secretary of state. Bible curses, says varina davis, the title character in varina, charles fraziers new novel. The first lady of the confederacy considers her painful past.
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