Podcasts about Elizabeth Van Lew

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of History Fix, I bring you the story of Mary Richards and Elizabeth Van Lew, two women who worked together to feed Confederate secrets to Union forces during the American Civil War. These daring women put it all on the line, demonstrating  exceptional bravery and above average intellect to do what they thought was right. At a time when women were seen as docile, ignorant, and non-threatening, Mary and Elizabeth fooled them all, helping to bring down the Confederacy from the inside with very little to show for it. Sources: Encyclopedia Virginia "Mary Richards Bowser"American Battlefield Trust "Mary Jane Richards"History.com "How a Black Spy Infiltrated the Confederate White House" Time Magazine "We're Missing the Point of the Mary Bowser Story"Journal of the Civil War Era "Jousting With History On a Stick"Smithsonian Magazine "Elizabeth Van Lew: An Unlikely Union Spy"US Office of the Historian "Founding of Liberia, 1847"National Park Service "The Civil War"Support the show! Buy Me a CoffeeVenmo @Shea-LaFountaine

From acclaimed historian Elizabeth Varon comes a true story of courage and controversy – a new exploration of one of the most complex figures from American Civil War history. LONGSTREET, delves deep into the life and legacy of General James Longstreet. With LONGSTREET, Varon – the recipient of the 2020 Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize for her book Armies of Deliverance – provides a meticulously researched biography that unveils the lesser-known aspects of General Longstreet's story, from his early days as a protégé of General Robert E. Lee to his pivotal role in the Battle of Gettysburg and beyond. However, what truly sets this work apart is its focus on Longstreet's divergent path from traditional Southern postwar ideology. After the South was defeated, Longstreet moved to New Orleans. There he supported Black voting and joined the newly elected, integrated postwar government in Louisiana. When white supremacists took up arms to oust that government, Longstreet, leading the interracial state militia, battled against former Confederates. White Southerners branded him a race traitor and blamed him retroactively for the South's defeat in the Civil War. His continued defiance ignited a firestorm. In this age of racial reckoning, it is high time that Longstreet be rediscovered. Varon's careful research and engaging storytelling provides readers with a fresh understanding of a man who dared to challenge the norms of his time, demonstrating that Longstreet's controversial choices have enduring relevance for our modern debates. About the Author: Elizabeth R. Varon is Langbourne M. Williams professor of American history at the University of Virginia and a member of the executive council of UVA's John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History. Varon's books include Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, A Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy, and Appomattox: Victory, Defeat and Freedom at the End of the Civil War. Her most recent book, Armies of Deliverance: A New History of the Civil War, won the 2020 Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize and was named one of The Wall Street Journal's best books of 2019. For more info on the book click HERE --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/steve-richards/support

In addition to writing, Libby McNamee is a public speaker, recovering lawyer, and former Army JAG Officer who spent time in Bosnia; Seoul, Korea; and Tacoma, Washington. She currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and history-guru son. She is currently at work on her third novel about Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union spy in Richmond during the Civil War who reported directly to General Grant.   Order from Bookshop.org at https://bookshop.org/a/90253/9781732220201   Or from Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3EKArwQ     Libby's Social Media   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibbyMcNameeAuthor   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbymcnameeauthor/   Website: http://www.libbymcnamee.com    Music by Jam Hansley Edited/Produced by Rob Southgate Buy our books: www.4horsemenpublications.com   Our Social media: @Drinkingwithauthors #drinkingwithauthors #4horsemenpublications #authorslife #authorssupportingauthors #indieauthors #authorsofinsta #publishedauthor #authorlove #authorsoninstagram #supportauthors #plotter #panster #writercommunity #authorgram #authorpreneur #authorquotes #authorlove #authortobe #Authorevent #AuthorDay  #authortalk #authorconfession #writerscorner  #writersofinsta #writerofig #writerssociety #writersociety #writerscommunityofinstagram #writerswrite #drinkingwithauthorspodcast #writerslife #writingtips #writing #authors #erikalance #drinking

This week, Kelley tells the prequel to Maggie Lena Walker's story and covers Elizabeth Van Lew, an abolitionist who worked as  a spy for the Union during the American Civil War. Despite her loyalty as a patriot, she would pay for her actions for the rest of her life. Then, Emily covers the Scythians, the real-life inspiration for the legends of Amazonian warriors! Grab your sword and kick down a confederate statue because we're wining about herstory!Support the show

Did you read the title of this episode? It's a doozy! As convoluted as “The Untold Story of the Story That I Told” is, I couldn't resist calling this newest episode that because of the WILD ride I went on making it. Years ago I made an eBook called “Rise and Resist” where I highlighted five different Black people who were alive around the time of Juneteenth. I told their stories and really wanted people to use this eBook to be able to share stories of Black resistance with children and students. I was planning on using one of those stories in today's episode as a way to illustrate how talking to kids about slavery can be complicated, but when I opened the book, I was astounded. I could not believe some of the stuff I wrote! There were things in there that I would never say today — things I would cringe about if someone else said them, but I double cringed knowing that I wrote them! So this episode is a little bit of what I had planned, but also a little bit of me correcting what I got totally wrong. I hope this episode reminds you how anti-racism is a journey. It's about growth. And the best thing we can do is keep moving forward and keep trying to grow. Sometimes we'll be in a position where our growth is evident, even if it's a little embarrassing, but it's worth it. If we're not trying to make change, speaking up and telling stories, then we might miss the opportunity to try to make things right — which is something I'm trying to do today!   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org for more information!   Check out our Summer Sale! We have a surprise for you — Ally Elementary Jr., Ally Elementary and Juneteenth Jubilee are all available RIGHT NOW! And to make that news even better, we're running a HUGE sale now through June 23! With Juneteenth right around the corner, you can get $25 off Juneteenth Jubilee to help you plan the perfect Juneteenth Dinner.  Or you can get $75 off Ally Elementary Jr. or Ally Elementary, and when you purchase either of those programs, you'll get Juneteenth Jubilee FOR FREE! No coupon code needed — the deal will automatically load itself into your cart. If you're interested in bringing anti-racist education into your home or classroom, now is the time to get them! Summer is a great time to start using these programs in your home or to prepare to use them in your classroom.  Head over to firstnamebasis.org/allyelementary to learn more or to get the programs!  Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Bookshop First Name Basis Podcast, Season 1, Episode 3: “Talking to Your Children About Slavery” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 26: “What is Juneteenth and How Can I Celebrate?” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 7: “Service, Not Saviorism” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 7: “The Untold Story of Rosa Parks” “How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America,” by Clint Smith “They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South,” by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story,” by Nicole Hannah-Jones  “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” by Ibram X. Kendi Juneteenth Strawberry Lemonade Cards by First Name Basis Richmond was the second largest city in the South when Virginia seceded Virginia was the largest Confederate state NAACP Culpeper Branch style guide for writing and teaching about slavery “Against Wind and Tide: The African American Struggle against the Colonization Movement,” by  Ousmane Power-Greene “How a Movement to Send Formerly Enslaved People to Africa Created Liberia,” by Becky Little, History.com Elizabeth Van Lew, American Battlefield Trust Elizabeth L. Van Lew, Library of Virginia “American Police,” Throughline Podcast, NPR Article about Mary Jane Richards dated Oct. 7, 1865 in The Anglo-African Info about the history of The Anglo-African   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN  

Hundreds of women acted as undercover agents, willing to risk their lives to help their cause. One of the most effective was Union spy Elizabeth Van Lew.

VANLIG EPISODE - Elizabeth van Lew var en amerikansk slaveri-motstander som drev spionringen The Richmond Underground under den amerikanske borgerkrigen. Elizabeth lyktes bla. i å plassere en spion i hjemmet til sørstatenes president, og spionasjen hennes bidro med etterretning som skal ha vært avgjørende for krigens utfall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week we got Elizabeth to the point of working directly for the Union army from inside Richmond. This week, she and the other Unionists aid a great prison breakout, give a fallen Union colonel a hero's funeral, and survive to see the Union army enter the capital of the Confederacy. With the war over, she takes a job that has rarely gone to a woman up until this point, but also faces the enmity of her Southern neighbors for the rest of her long life.See the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for a transcript, pictures, and sources.

We have now arrived at the woman who inspired this whole series on spies! Because Elizabeth Van Lew is one of my absolute favorites, and her story is so good that I simply cannot squeeze it into only one episode. Elizabeth Van Lews was a daughter of the Old South, but also an ardent abolitionist. In this episode we take her from debutante to undercover agent in Richmond, Virginia.Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for a transcript, pictures, and sources.

Elizabeth Van Lew and Belle Boyd had a lot in common: They were born in the same state, they died the same year and they both were spies during the same war...but for opposing sides!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hello Great Minds and Happy Women's History Month! Like I mentioned, I will be pulling the ladies out of our DGMH "Moment in the Margins" segments for their own showcase! This week - Mary Elizabeth Bowser and  Elizabeth Van Lew, as we explore the Richmond Spy Ring! Plus, a little bit on Clara Barton & Dorothea Dix!  Have a listen to this short episode cut from the Lincoln Saga! Support the show here and get access to all sorts of bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=34398347&fan_landing=trueCheers!Be sure to join the Facebook Group at "Drinks with Great Minds in History Podcast"Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram @dgmhhistoryMusic:Hall of the Mountain King by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3845-hall-of-the-mountain-kingLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artwork by @Tali Rose... Check it out! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=34398347&fan_landing=true)

Libby McNamee and I chat about historical fiction and her novels SUZANNA'S MIDNIGHT RIDE: THE GIRL WHO WON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, DOLLY MADISON AND THE WAR OF 1812: AMERICA'S FIRST LADY, and her upcoming book about Elizabeth Van Lew. We discuss writing about the past with empathy, distilling history into a fictional narrative, history as a context for the present, and so much more. Libby McNamee is an author and lawyer. She loves exploring America's many historical sites. When a descendant told her the TRUE story of Susanna Bolling from Virginia and her heroism during the Revolutionary War, Libby was determined to share it with the world. “Susanna's Midnight Ride” is her first published novel. She is currently writing “Dolley Madison and the War of 1812: America's First Lady.” In addition, she is a member of the American Friends of Lafayette, the American Revolution Roundtable, the Historical Novel Society, and James River Writers Libby served as a US Army JAG Officer in Korea, Bosnia, Germany, and Washington State. A native of Boston, Libby graduated with a BA in Government/International Relations and French from Georgetown University cum laude in 1988, a JD from Catholic University Law School in 1993, a Certificate in English Law from the London School of Economics in 1999. She has lived in the Richmond, VA, since 2002.

This 2011 episode from previous hosts Sarah and Deblina covers the life of Mary-Elizabeth Bowser, who was released from enslavement by Elizabeth Van Lew, then went on to become an agent in Van Lew's "Richmond Ring" of Civil War spies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The year is 1861 and America is in the grips of a bloody Civil War that will change it forever. In Richmond, the capital of the new Confederate States, Southern Belles and Ladies are sewing uniforms, throwing fundraising galas, and nursing injured soldiers, all with the support of young female slaves. They can't go onto the battlefield but they're doing the best they can to support their husbands, brothers, sweethearts, and fathers. But in the middle of all this Southern charity is one woman who separates herself from the pack, choosing to visit the Union prisoners in Libby Prison rather than the injured Confederates in the hospitals. She takes them books, food, and anything else that could comfort them, despite the fact that as a wealthy white Southerner, she is the natural enemy of the Yankee. And because she looks the part – expensive clothes, genteel accent, black servants – no one thinks to question her charity. That is their first mistake. Because this woman is not like her peers. She is not a loyal Southerner, nor is she pro-Slavery. Her name is Elizabeth Van Lew, and, by the end of the war, Ulysses S. Grant will call her the “source of the most valuable information received from Richmond during the war.”Visit us online at itshometownhistory.comSupport our show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/itshometownhistoryEpisode Sponsors:- Grab your favorite Liquid IV flavors and get 25% off when you go to Liquidiv.com and use code hometown at checkout

This week, we talk about a woman who was loyal to her country during a time of deep division, and who was one of the most successful "spies" of the Civil War--but don't let her hear you call her a spy.  For more old timey crimey content, check out the Patreon and see what extras you can get for a few bucks a months! Or check out our Amazon Wishlist to buy us a book--making the episode topic YOUR CHOICE! Don't forget to follow the show FB, Insta, or Twitter.  WE HAVE MERCH! Come check it out! https://www.redbubble.com/people/oldtimeycrimey/shop  Sources:  Cate Lineberry. Smithsonian.  Mike Gorman. Civil War Richmond.  The American Civil War.  Histprofdave. Ask Historians subreddit.  National Park Service.  Intelligence Knowledge Network. Kimberly J. Largent. Ohio State U. William Gilmore Beymer. Harpers Monthly via Civil War Richmond.  Lois Leveen. The Atlantic.  Newspapers.com: NY Times.  Thad Morgan. History.com.  Kathy Weiser-Alexander. Legends of America David Smith. The Guardian.    Music:  Evil Plan by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3725-evil-plan License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

All month, we're talking about Spies. Tune in to hear incredible stories of intelligence and espionage! Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Leading Ladies, Activists, STEMinists,  Local Legends, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.Encyclopedia Womannica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, and Brittany Martinez. Special thanks to Shira Atkins, Edie Allard, and Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, and Ale Tejeda.We are offering free ad space on Wonder Media Network shows to organizations working towards social justice. For more information, please email Jenny at jenny@wondermedianetwork.com.Follow Wonder Media Network:WebsiteInstagramTwitter

This week Matt treats us to the excellent story of a woman during the civil war who collaborated with a network of slaves, northerners and sympathizers to undermine the confederate forces in her local Virginia. She pretends to be a gator but she's a beaver the whole time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It looked like a regular custard dish. Just a nice dessert to give to a friend. But it contained a compartment for secret messages -- a very nice feature for someone smuggling secret information from the heart of the Confederacy into the hands of Union military leaders. That dish belonged to Elizabeth Van Lew, born to a prominent family in Richmond. Her actions during the Civil War left her socially shunned, but later inducted into the U.S. Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.

The story of Elizabeth Van Lew and her allies in Richmond continues. We rejoin the story of the captured Union soldiers as they try to escape from Libby prison and we learn why not even the Confederate White House was safe from Union spies. Please Rate and Review the podcast To contact me: Email: distortedhistorypod@gmail.com Twitter @DistortedHistor https://twitter.com/DistortedHistor If you would like to support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/distortedhistory

Richmond may have been the capitol of the Confederate states that rebelled against the US government but that doesn't mean everyone in that city supported the cause. Unbeknownst to the leaders of the Confederacy there were spies in their midst. Please Rate and Review the podcast To contact me: Email: distortedhistorypod@gmail.com Twitter @DistortedHistor https://twitter.com/DistortedHistor If you would like to support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/distortedhistory

Natalie talks about Elizabeth Van Lew, an important spy for the Union during the Civil War!

On January 23, 2020, Douglas Waller delivered the Banner Lecture, "Lincoln’s Spies: Their Secret War to Save a Nation." Lincoln’s Spies is a story about dangerous espionage and covert operations during the Civil War. It is told through the lives of four Union agents. Allan Pinkerton, whose detective agency had already brought him fame nationwide, was George McClellan’s failed spymaster, delivering inflated intelligence reports that made the Union general even more cautious. Lafayette Baker ran counter-espionage operations in Washington for the War Department, putting hundreds in jail and pocketing cash from graft he uncovered. George Sharpe, a New York lawyer, successfully ran spying for generals Joseph Hooker, George Meade, and Ulysses S. Grant, outpacing anything the Confederates could field. Elizabeth Van Lew, a Virginia heiress, ran a Union espionage ring in Richmond, providing Grant critical information as his army closed in on the Confederate capital. And behind these secret agents was Abraham Lincoln who became an avid consumer of intelligence and a ruthless aficionado of covert action. The phone tapping, human collection and aerial snooping you see today’s spies doing can be traced back to the Civil War. Douglas Waller is a former correspondent for Newsweek and TIME, where he covered the CIA, Pentagon, State Department, White House, and Congress. He is the author of several bestselling books, including Wild Bill Donovan: The Spymaster Who Created the OSS and Modern American Espionage; The Commandos: The Inside Story of America's Secret Soldiers; and Disciples: The World War II Missions of the CIA Directors Who Fought for Wild Bill Donovan. His latest book is Lincoln’s Spies: Their Secret War to Save the Nation.

On today's episode we discuss Sonia Orbruch, Partisan Member, and Elizabeth Van Lew, Souther Belle Union Spy  

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall and just a few of the numerous hauntings in Richmond, VA. Music by J. Michael Tatum and https://www.purple-planet.com.

INTRO - 111:09 | Hannah reads from an article titled “The Costs of the Confederacy”12:35 - 33:40 | Hannah tells us about Civil War Spy, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, and Her Cohort, Elizabeth Van Lew, AKA "Crazy Bet" Like what you hear?We’re now on Patreon! Are you a Good Witch? Or a Bad Bitch? You decide when you become a Patron! The first 10 patrons to support us will get an enamel pin corresponding to their choice!https://www.patreon.com/join/gwbbpodcast?ORBuy us a coffee on Ko-Fi: http://ko-fi.com/gwbbpodcastTwitter: https://twitter.com/GWBBPodcastIG: https://www.instagram.com/gwbbpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwbbpodcastPlease leave us a review and subscribe!If you have comments/things you want to mention, email us at GWBBPodcast@gmail.com!Produced by Moonbounce

19th-century women aren't supposed to be devious - and that's what made them such effective spies. Hundreds of women tied gun parts to their crinolines, baked quinine into bread loaves, hid generals in their attics, and made daring midnight rides for their cause. In this episode, we follow four of them: Union ladies Elizabeth Van Lew and Mary Jane Bowser and Confederate dames Rose O'Neal Greenhow and Bell Boyd. They flirted, tricked, and cajoled the men around them, using their prejudice about a woman's place to achieve outrageous feats of courage and ingenuity. You won't believe what they did, and what they risked, to do their part for the conflict raging all around them.

In which the Library of Virginia's Sandra Gioia Treadway tells us about 5 remarkable women - Cockacoeske, Anna Maria Lane, Elizabeth Van Lew, Caroline Putnam, and Mary Jackson, and how they impacted Virginia and beyond.

Elizabeth Van Lew and Mary Richards Bowser were two mysterious women with deep connections to the Episcopal Church. Both Union spies during the Civil War, one ended her life a pariah while the other disappeared from history. Producer Miranda Bennett also talks to Grace Aheron, an Episcopalian grappling, like Van Lew and Bowser, with her role in a large and complex community. Read more here: https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Bowser_Mary_Richards_fl_1846-1867 and https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Van_Lew_Elizabeth_L_1818-1900

Author Kat Smutz shares the story of one of the most controversial and misunderstood US Civil War spies, Elizabeth Van Lew.

On Tuesday, November 11, at noon, Karen Abbott delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War." After shooting a Union soldier in her front hall with a pocket pistol, Belle Boyd became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds cut off her hair and assumed the identity of a man to enlist as a Union private, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Rose O’Neale Greenhow, engaged in affairs with powerful northern politicians to gather intelligence for the Confederacy. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring. Using a wealth of primary source material and interviews with the spies’ descendants, Karen Abbott illuminates one of the most fascinating yet little-known aspects of the Civil War: the stories of four courageous women—a socialite, a farmgirl, an abolitionist, and a widow—who were spies.

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014, Karen Abbott delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War." After shooting a Union soldier in her front hall with a pocket pistol, Belle Boyd became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds cut off her hair and assumed the identity of a man to enlist as a Union private, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Rose O'Neale Greenhow, engaged in affairs with powerful northern politicians to gather intelligence for the Confederacy. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring. Using a wealth of primary source material and interviews with the spies' descendants, Karen Abbott illuminates one of the most fascinating yet little-known aspects of the Civil War: the stories of four courageous women—a socialite, a farmgirl, an abolitionist, and a widow—who were spies. Abbott is a featured contributor to Smithsonian's history blog, Past Imperfect, and also writes for Disunion, the New York Times series about the Civil War. She is the author of several books, including American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee (2010) and Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War (2014). This lecture is cosponsored with the American Civil War Museum. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

If group biography is one of the exciting new trends in life-writing (and some say it is), Karen Abbott– the historian, not to be confused with the novelist-proves one of its deftest practitioners- first, in her debut Sin in the Second City, then in the follow-up American Rose (which we discussed back in 2012) and now in her new book: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War (Harper, 2014). Tracking four women- two Confederates and two Unionists- across battle lines, continents and even, at times, genders, with great verve Abbott weaves together a series of stories, connected by the conflict in which they are occurring and yet also uniquely each women’s own. The story of the American Civil War has been told umpteen times, but it is an unexpected element within the familiar which Abbott is concerned with exploring here. Tales of our heroines- Belle Boyd, Emma Edmonds,Rose O’Neale Greenhow and Elizabeth Van Lew, all women most readers will be encountering for the first time- yield an untraditional perspective on women’s participation in the war whilst Abbott also gives fresh life to well-known figures: Stonewall Jackson, painted here in broad vivid colors, emerges from the familiar tapestry in his full, eccentric glory almost as a character born anew. Reviewing her first book, USA Today labeled Abbott a “pioneer of sizzle history.” It’s a label that’s stuck and one which is apt for a mode of story-telling driven by such a propulsive kinetic energy, as Abbott’s is. But it’s important to note that the stories she’s telling are sturdy, thoroughly researched and culturally necessary. The word “sizzle” can imply a frothy effervescence, a flash in the pan, and these stories- the stories of these four women in Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy and in her other books- are anything but. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If group biography is one of the exciting new trends in life-writing (and some say it is), Karen Abbott– the historian, not to be confused with the novelist-proves one of its deftest practitioners- first, in her debut Sin in the Second City, then in the follow-up American Rose (which we discussed back in 2012) and now in her new book: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War (Harper, 2014). Tracking four women- two Confederates and two Unionists- across battle lines, continents and even, at times, genders, with great verve Abbott weaves together a series of stories, connected by the conflict in which they are occurring and yet also uniquely each women’s own. The story of the American Civil War has been told umpteen times, but it is an unexpected element within the familiar which Abbott is concerned with exploring here. Tales of our heroines- Belle Boyd, Emma Edmonds,Rose O’Neale Greenhow and Elizabeth Van Lew, all women most readers will be encountering for the first time- yield an untraditional perspective on women’s participation in the war whilst Abbott also gives fresh life to well-known figures: Stonewall Jackson, painted here in broad vivid colors, emerges from the familiar tapestry in his full, eccentric glory almost as a character born anew. Reviewing her first book, USA Today labeled Abbott a “pioneer of sizzle history.” It’s a label that’s stuck and one which is apt for a mode of story-telling driven by such a propulsive kinetic energy, as Abbott’s is. But it’s important to note that the stories she’s telling are sturdy, thoroughly researched and culturally necessary. The word “sizzle” can imply a frothy effervescence, a flash in the pan, and these stories- the stories of these four women in Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy and in her other books- are anything but. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If group biography is one of the exciting new trends in life-writing (and some say it is), Karen Abbott– the historian, not to be confused with the novelist-proves one of its deftest practitioners- first, in her debut Sin in the Second City, then in the follow-up American Rose (which we discussed back in 2012) and now in her new book: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War (Harper, 2014). Tracking four women- two Confederates and two Unionists- across battle lines, continents and even, at times, genders, with great verve Abbott weaves together a series of stories, connected by the conflict in which they are occurring and yet also uniquely each women’s own. The story of the American Civil War has been told umpteen times, but it is an unexpected element within the familiar which Abbott is concerned with exploring here. Tales of our heroines- Belle Boyd, Emma Edmonds,Rose O’Neale Greenhow and Elizabeth Van Lew, all women most readers will be encountering for the first time- yield an untraditional perspective on women’s participation in the war whilst Abbott also gives fresh life to well-known figures: Stonewall Jackson, painted here in broad vivid colors, emerges from the familiar tapestry in his full, eccentric glory almost as a character born anew. Reviewing her first book, USA Today labeled Abbott a “pioneer of sizzle history.” It’s a label that’s stuck and one which is apt for a mode of story-telling driven by such a propulsive kinetic energy, as Abbott’s is. But it’s important to note that the stories she’s telling are sturdy, thoroughly researched and culturally necessary. The word “sizzle” can imply a frothy effervescence, a flash in the pan, and these stories- the stories of these four women in Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy and in her other books- are anything but. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If group biography is one of the exciting new trends in life-writing (and some say it is), Karen Abbott– the historian, not to be confused with the novelist-proves one of its deftest practitioners- first, in her debut Sin in the Second City, then in the follow-up American Rose (which we discussed back in 2012) and now in her new book: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War (Harper, 2014). Tracking four women- two Confederates and two Unionists- across battle lines, continents and even, at times, genders, with great verve Abbott weaves together a series of stories, connected by the conflict in which they are occurring and yet also uniquely each women’s own. The story of the American Civil War has been told umpteen times, but it is an unexpected element within the familiar which Abbott is concerned with exploring here. Tales of our heroines- Belle Boyd, Emma Edmonds,Rose O’Neale Greenhow and Elizabeth Van Lew, all women most readers will be encountering for the first time- yield an untraditional perspective on women’s participation in the war whilst Abbott also gives fresh life to well-known figures: Stonewall Jackson, painted here in broad vivid colors, emerges from the familiar tapestry in his full, eccentric glory almost as a character born anew. Reviewing her first book, USA Today labeled Abbott a “pioneer of sizzle history.” It’s a label that’s stuck and one which is apt for a mode of story-telling driven by such a propulsive kinetic energy, as Abbott’s is. But it’s important to note that the stories she’s telling are sturdy, thoroughly researched and culturally necessary. The word “sizzle” can imply a frothy effervescence, a flash in the pan, and these stories- the stories of these four women in Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy and in her other books- are anything but. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author Karen Abbott discusses her new novel Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy (on-sale: 9-2-14)with @HarperAudio_US Producer Erin Wicks. This episode also includes an excerpt from the audio edition performed by Karen White. About Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy Belle Boyd Emma Edmonds Rose O'Neal Greenhow Elizabeth Van Lew In Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, bestselling author Karen Abbott tells the spellbinding true story of four women who risked everything—their homes, their families, and their very lives—during the Civil War. Seventeen-year-old Belle Boyd, an avowed rebel with a dangerous temper, shot a Union soldier in her home and became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her considerable charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds disguised herself as a man to enlist as a Union private named Frank Thompson, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the war and infiltrating enemy lines, all the while fearing that her past would catch up with her. The beautiful widow Rose O'Neal Greenhow engaged in affairs with powerful Northern politicians, used her young daughter to send information to Southern generals, and sailed abroad to lobby for the Confederacy, a journey that cost her more than she ever imagined. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper Southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring—even placing a former slave inside the Confederate White House—right under the noses of increasingly suspicious rebel detectives. Abbott's pulse-quickening narrative weaves the adventures of these four forgotten daredevils into the tumultuous landscape of a broken America, evoking a secret world that will surprise even the most avid enthusiasts of Civil War–era history. With a cast of real-life characters, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, General Stonewall Jackson, Detective Allan Pinkerton, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, and Emperor Napoléon III, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy shines a dramatic new light on these daring—and, until now, unsung—heroines.

This episode of History Replays Today, The Richmond HistoryPodcast features Catherine Wright in a conversation about the infamous spy in RVA during the Civil War, Elizabeth Van Lew.  Wright is Curator in the Flag Collection at the Museum of the … Continue reading →

After her father died, Elizabeth Van Lew freed the family slaves, including a girl named Mary. When the Civil War began, sources say Mary became an agent in Van Lew's "Richmond Ring." Join Sarah and Deblina to learn more about Civil War spies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers