"Traditionally, narratives of war have been male," Sharon Talley writes. In the pages that follow, she goes on to disrupt this tradition, offering close readings and comparative studies of fourteen women's diaries from the Civil War era that illuminate women's experiences in the Confederacy during the war. While other works highlighting individual diaries exist-and Talley notes that there has been a virtual explosion of published primary sources by women in recent years-this is the first effort of comprehensive synthesis of women's Civil War diaries to attempt to characterize them as a distinct genre. Deeply informed by autobiographical theory, as well as literary and social history, Talley's presentation of multiple diaries from women of differing backgrounds illuminates complexities and disparities across female wartime experiences rather than perpetuating overgeneralizations gleaned from a single diary or preconceived ideas about what these diaries contain. To facilitate this comparative approach, Talley divides her study into six sections that are organized by location, vocation, and purpose: diaries of elite planter women; diaries of women on the Texas frontier; diaries of women on the Confederate border; diaries of espionage by women in the South; diaries of women nurses near the battlefront; and diaries of women missionaries in the Port Royal Experiment. When read together, these writings illustrate that the female experience in the Civil War South was not one but many. Women's Diaries from the Civil War South: A Literary-Historical Reading is an essential text for scholars in women's studies, autobiography studies, and Civil War studies alike, presenting an in-depth and multifaceted look at how the Civil War reshaped women's lives in the South-and how their diverse responses shaped the course of the war in return.

Recognizing that women often find themselves overlooked in written and oral history, Filling in the Pieces: Women Tell Their Stories of the Twentieth Century provides readers with personal narratives from women across the globe. The text includes observations and insights from women who were born in the earliest years of the twentieth century to those who witnessed two world wars, landing on the moon, the birth of the internet, and much more. As an oral history project, students of Michaela Reaves collected individual narratives of the events of one woman's life. Each narrative reflects the cultural mores of the world she inhabited, as well personal reflections on particular periods of her life. The text is organized chronologically and divided into four distinct parts with each part centering about a particular time period between 1900 and 2000. Each includes an introduction to provide readers with valuable historical context followed by a collection of interviews of women who lived across the globe, from Singapore to Estonia, San Francisco to Calcutta, Holland to Louisiana, and everywhere in between. Discussion questions throughout the text encourage critical thought and meaningful conversation. Filling in the Pieces is an ideal resource for courses in 20th century history. It transcends the traditional structure of only dates and wars to give voice to those living the "underside" of history.

Be inspired by a woman who dared to follow God Amy Carmichael understood true discipleship and lived it out. At a very young age she felt called to the mission field, followed God's guidance, and eventually went to India, where she would spend fifty-three years without furlough. While there, Amy founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for children in moral danger-children who were orphaned or unwanted and sold to the temple. Amy became a mother for these children, and so they called her "Amma." Even today, Amy's life of obedience and courage stands as a model for all Christians everywhere. We resonate with her desires and dreams, her faults and fears, her dedication and service. For former missionary and author Elisabeth Elliot, Amy became a role model. "She was my first spiritual mother," writes Elliot. "She showed me the shape of godliness." A Chance to Die is the life story of Amy Carmichael. In this reverent biography, Elisabeth Elliot brings "Amma" to life, providing a compelling, unforgettable narrative that will provoke you to examine the depths of your own faith and encourage you to reaffirm your life and commitment to Christ. Elisabeth Elliot, one of the outstanding women of present-day Christianity, is the author of more than twenty books, including Passion and Purity, The Journals of Jim Elliot, and These Strange Ashes. She and her husband, Lars Gren, live in Magnolia, Massachusetts.

On July 6, 2003, four months after the United States invaded Iraq, former ambassador Joseph Wilson's now historic op-ed, "What I Didn't Find in Africa," appeared in "The New York Times." A week later, conservative pundit Robert Novak revealed in his newspaper column that Ambassador Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, was a CIA operative. The public disclosure of that secret information spurred a federal investigation and led to the trial and conviction of Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby, and the Wilsons' civil suit against top officials of the Bush administration. Much has been written about the "Valerie Plame" story, but Valerie herself has been silent, until now. Some of what has been reported about her has been frighteningly accurate, serving as a pungent reminder to the Wilsons that their lives are no longer private. And some has been completely false -- distorted characterizations of Valerie and her husband and their shared integrity.

Valerie Wilson retired from the CIA in January 2006, and now, not only as a citizen but as a wife and mother, the daughter of an Air Force colonel, and the sister of a U.S. marine, she sets the record straight, providing an extraordinary account of her training and experiences, and answers many questions that have been asked about her covert status, her responsibilities, and her life. As readers will see, the CIA still deems much of the detail of Valerie's story to be classified. As a service to readers, an afterword by national security reporter Laura Rozen provides a context for Valerie's own story.

"Fair Game" is the historic and unvarnished account of the personal and international consequences of speaking truth to power.