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Title: Tara Revisited: Women, War, & the Plantation Legend by Catherine Clinton, Henry Louis Gate Jr ISBN: 0-7892-0159-3 Publisher: Abbeville Press, Inc. Pub. Date: March, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95

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Average Customer Rating: 2.25 (4 reviews)

Rating: 2
Summary: not convincing
Comment: Tara Revisited is an only marginally convincing portrait of the "real" southern woman. Clinton successfully debunks the myth of the Old South, yet fails to put in its place a convincing and thorough discussion of the real lives of these women.

Clinton, in refuting the popular myth of the "southern belle," does put up her own model for the southern lady. But this model depends little on how these women actually lived and what they really though; rather she consistently insists on painting women in an overly noble and (still) idealized way.

If you are looking for a good history and examination of women during the American Civil War, try "Mothers of Invention" by Drew Gilpin Faust. It is immensely more satisfying than Clinton's depiction.

Rating: 5
Summary: Factual Alternative to a Myth
Comment: Southerners carry a chip on their shoulder when it comes to the Lost Cause, so any book which attempts to set the record straight is an exercise in masochism, certain to be fired upon by those weened on Plantation Mythology. Clinton investigates the development of the "Tara Mystique", that belief that plantation life consisted of happy slaves working for the love of the masters and mistresses. She both dispels this legend and defends the character of Southern womanhood during the Civil War and afterwards. Those who want their ancestors to be demigods will hate this book. Those who want to demonize Southern forebears will find it too light. Those who are willing to confront history as a record made by human beings will enjoy this book and ask for more.

Rating: 1
Summary: Disappointing, one sided, laced with Author's own prejudice
Comment: As a lover and avid reader of history I was VERY disappointed in this book. I found Ms. Clintons opinions and interpretations of the south and southern plantation era one sided, selective, and laced with her own prejudices. Yes, it was a horrible, horrible time for the blacks, whites and our country. Slavery will always be Americas greatest shame, a flaw that most of us struggle to understand and rectify in our human frailty each day, but if Ms. Clinton is to be believed, there was but a handful of humane, caring "white" people residing in the south during this time! Which is Not true! If Ms. Clinton considers herself a true historian (which I do not) and writer of history I feel it is her duty to tell All sides honestly, with equal amounts of pros and cons, and without her own bias slants. To my fellow history buffs I can not reccoment this book and I can honestly say that I will never read another of Ms. Clintons books in the future.