The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai provides a rare and insightful look into the life of a Jewish woman in the Confederate South. Emma's diary captures the complexities of her identity—Jewish in a predominantly Christian society, unmarried in a culture focused on marriage, and a slave owner upholding Southern values despite her minority status.

Through her detailed observations, readers experience the daily challenges of wartime, from food shortages and hospital visits to the impact of nearby battles and the aftermath of emancipation.

This diary is a valuable historical document that highlights the intersection of religion, gender, and Confederate nationalism, offering a unique perspective on the Civil War from a Emma's personal lens. I highly recommend reading.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you're an American history buff, you'll find this book fascinating. I had not read any accounts of the Civil War period by Jewish women so that was an added perk for me. This is a fine addition to the genre of Jewish American History and will particularly be appreciated by Jewish women (of which I am one).

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It gives such a great look at Emma and her life!

[I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley]

<I><B>The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai</B></I> edited and with an introduction by Dianne Ashton, with Melissa R. Klapper, is a unique and ultimately enlightening document that gives readers insight into the perspective of a Jewish woman living in (and supporting) the Confederate South.

Strictly speaking, 'The Civil War Diary' is not actually Emma's original 1864-1865 Diary. It is derived from a typed 1886 transcript that Emma created of her diaries which had, as Emma notes in varying moments of the text, been partially destroyed by rodents, insects, and general wear and tear.

Thankfully, both the original diary papers and the transcript still exist, so we are able to know that the 1886 transcript retains spelling mistakes, punctuation, etc, from the original diary, and that is not a rewrite but an authentic capture of what Emma wrote during 1864-1865.

What is added are occasional dates, explanations, and even side comments. In one entry where Emma writes down that she was told an excellent joke, her 1886 added note laments: "Wish I had recorded the joke--wonder I didn't."

Emma's diary captures what ends up being the last months of the Civil War. While the earlier entries boast about Confederate successes--including a nasty entry where Emma seemingly gleefully recounts a black Union soldier being captured and forced to be the personal slave of a Confederate officer--it soon builds into Confederate losses and the total restructuring of Emma's world.

Most notably, Emma and those around her are forced to confront a new reality where slaves are no longer slaves, and where they are no longer beholden to treat Emma with inherent deference and respect. Emma's response is to bitterly write of the enslaved people in her sister's household, now leaving to make their own way: "They will now begin to find out how easy their life as slaves has been, & to feel the slavery of their freedom."

As the formerly enslaved people of the household gradually decide to make a life elsewhere, Emma and the others must become accustomed to doing their own labor, as finding servants--now actual paid servants, rather than the polite euphemism Emma typically uses to refer to slaves--to help is difficult.

Emma writes, "Felt stiff and sore with my unaccustomed labours of yesterday." She even complains of the fact that she felt no gratitude from the rest of the household for her work--one must wonder how often the enslaved people in the household felt true gratitude from Emma and her family.

Emma's life as a Jewish woman also plays a key role in the text. Emma writes of religious days, of going to the synagogue, and her religious believes are intertwined with her belief in the Confederacy and her way of coping with the world around her. As a reader, it can be frustrating to read Emma's religious thoughts, only to be followed a few pages later by her lamenting the idea of freedom for those around her.

About 50% of the book is dedicated to a lengthy introduction, although I think calling it simply an "introduction" does this section of the text a disservice. The introduction provides necessary and enlightening context into the events and world of the diary, along with important information about Emma and the other people mentioned throughout the text. The analysis of the text in this section is also invaluable.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in Civil War texts or historial memoirs. This unflinching look into the attitude of a Southern woman during the final year of the Civil War is a must-read for anyone with an interest in this era, especially if you are looking for a diarist who wrote fairly bluntly about the bitterness and condescension she felt towards the abolition of slavery.

The life story of Emma was educational as it was endearing to learn how a young, Jewish women had lived during the Civil War. With it being only one of a handful of diaries still in existence from the Cuvil War, it documented everyday life, and her ideas and beliefs. It shares a glimpse into what life was like and a unique look at the war that was raging on around her.

The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordechai is absolutely wonderful. The writers did an amazing job of adding bits and pieces of relevant information together as they went through the diary, helping to bring it to life. Emma's story is told from a perspective I had never thought about. I love the non-bias way Emma's story was told, allowing the reader to judge for themselves. I would definitely recommend this to any and everyone.

This is an interesting and informative book! I was immediately drawn into the book after reading the foreword by Richard Drucker- (husband of the deceased Dr. Dianne Ashton).

The first half of the book is the introduction, which introduced the reader to Emma Mordecai. It also provides loads of information and facts pertaining to the Civil War. The second half contains excerpts from Emma's diary.

The subject of racism and particularly southern Jewish racism was something I never knew about. It was eye-opening, to say the least. The book whetted my interest concerning this subject.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from New York University Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma Mordecai, a Jewish woman in the Old South, lived an unusual life as an unmarried American-born Jew who maintained her faith while family members embraced Christianity. Her Civil War diary, one of the few kept by a Jewish woman in the antebellum South, reveals her views on Confederate nationalism, Southern identity, and women's roles in wartime. The diary also chronicles her experiences with dislocation and the loss of her home, providing insight into the racist social and political structures of her time.

This was an intriguing look into the everyday life of the women who kept the home while the men of their family fought in the war. It was also interesting to get a glimpse into how the belief of racial superiority was not dependent on religion. Emma Mordecai’s views, the horror she felt when her side faced defeat, ring through the words she penned at the time. I certainly didn’t agree with what she wrote, but I was interested in how she went about life at the time.

The introduction does a wonderful job of explaining some of the details before the reader is introduced to them. Readers who are interested in a blunt look at something that really happened will enjoy reading this.

In the Civil War diary of Emma Mordecai by Diane Ashton and Melissa Clapper it is about a Jewish woman living in Richmond Virginia and losing her home due to the Civil War in the year long diaries she kept about her woe’s and tribulations throughout the 12 months she documented in her journal. She was forced to move with her brother and sister-in-law and we hear about all the changes she goes through not only the isolation of moving from the city to the country but the indignity she felt when first coming up on freed black men who spoke to her without deference and her bewilderment at them not knowing their place. I know a lot of people will read this and think badly of Emma and her racist viewpoints because most people cannot see past their own nose but for those who realize Emma it’s just a product of her time then you will probably enjoy this book. I love reading life from others points of views, this isn’t the actual diary,but a Jewish historian talking about her diary. It was started by Doctor of history Diane Ashton but due to her untimely death it was finished by her colleague and friend Dr. Melissa Clapper. This is a great book and a great view into the lives and opinions that would help form those opinions in a time that may be baffling to the modern day reader. My favorite quote is by Maya Angelou and it is when we know better we do better and after reading this book and getting to know Emma as much as I could through the narrative I would love to think her opinions would’ve been different had she been born at a different time but she was a product of her raising end it pains me to think anyone would think ill of this lonely woman when they haven’t even walked a block in her shoes. I do wish it was her actual diary but the authors explaining her statements made it an even better read. I just wish we would have at least got excerpts directly from her diary but I digress it was still an awesome book and one I absolutely loved and totally recommend for any fan of history the Civil War Jewish history in women’s history ETC. I want to thank NYU press for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

As as history major, I love a great book filled with honesty of what life was like. This book was so beautiful and informative. It was wonderfully put together, and so deep but also so simple. I was engulfed from the first page. This is a book that would be great in high schools and collages to explain the civil war. Wonderfully done! Highly suggest.

This a story about a Jewish woman in the Civil War South. I had never thought about the Jews in America at that time. It was very interesting and well written. Informative, great read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai" offers a rare and insightful glimpse into the life of a Jewish woman in the Confederate South during the Civil War. Emma Mordecai's diary provides a unique perspective on the social, cultural, and religious dynamics of the time, highlighting her experiences as a minority in a predominantly Christian society.

The diary not only details Emma's daily life but also explores broader themes such as Confederate nationalism, Southern identity, and the complexities of slave-owning households. Emma's steadfast commitment to her Jewish faith and practices adds depth to her character and underscores the challenges she faced in maintaining her identity in a society that often marginalized those who were different.

Overall, "The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai" is a valuable historical document that offers a nuanced and compelling portrait of a woman grappling with the complexities of life in the Confederate South. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the Civil War era or in the experiences of minority groups during this tumultuous time in American history. #TheCivilWarDiaryofEmmaMordecai #NetGalley

The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai by Edited and with an introduction by Dianne Ashton with Melissa R. Klapper is a great nonfiction/memoir that I really enjoyed.

This is an interesting glimpse into both the unique and “ordinary” world of a woman during the Civil War. Through these journal entries we can see the specific concerns and challenges that Emma experienced due to being Jewish, and also some of the things that all women experienced to some degree during this time.

The significant introduction, historical context, and background that was given before the entries are produced gives a wealth of knowledge to help the reader understand a bit more about Emma, her surroundings, and the time that she lived in. The selected images were also a lovely addition.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and NYU Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/29/24.