Macaria; or, Altars of Sacrifice

by Augusta Jane Evans, Drew Gilpin Faust (Editor)

First published in 1864, Macaria; or, Altars of Sacrifice was the third novel of Augusta Jane Evans, one of the leading women writers of nineteenth-century domestic fiction. A wartime best seller, with more than twenty thousand copies in circulation in the print-starved Confederacy before the war’s end, the novel was also extremely well received along the Union front, so much so that some northern officials thought it should be banned. Long out of print and largely unavailable until now, Macaria is a compelling narrative about women and war.

In Macaria, Evans charts the journey of two southern women toward ultimate self-realization through their service in the war-torn Confederacy. Discarding the theme of romantic fulfillment, Evans skillfully crafts a novel about women compelled by the departure and death of so many southern men to find meaning in their own “single blessedness,” rather than in marriage.

Drew Gilpin Faust, in her perceptive introduction to this edition, places the novel in the context of the concerns of Confederate nationalism and the contributions of women during the Civil War. She provides an ideological and historical framework within which to interpret the novel and introduce it to a new generation of readers. Largely overlooked in the current revival of women’s fiction, Augusta Jane Evans is less well known today than she should be. The reissue of this volume will do much to garner Evans a well-deserved place in the existing body of American literature, and especially southern and women’s literature.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Academic

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1864

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

A difficult read but worth getting through to try to understand why it was so popular at its time. This book is loaded with references to Greek & Roman stories (e.g. Macaria) and I believe it's trying to create a mythos of the South mid-war...before it had the mythos it does today. The author attempts to tie events and actions and feelings of Southerners to these old stories, creating the idea of a society full of noble and educated souls, full of self-sacrifice and goodness. I only recommend reading it to see the mythos being built, it's not worth it for the plot or for fun. I wrote a paper on it in college.

[Savannah Noel · Rating 1 out of 5]

altars of sacrifice? do you want to know what I’VE sacrificed by reading this? TIME. JOY. MONEY. PEACE. HAPPINESS.

just imagine if colleen hoover wrote a civil war era romance that also doubled as confederate propaganda. the incest wasn’t even the worst part of this book. i hate that i had to type that.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Greater love is there then this, one lay down his life for another; yet no greater sacrifice is there then hers, who gives Husband, Son, Father, Brother!

[Etta Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating example of powerful female characters created by a 19th c. woman writer! Even more interesting is the way in which the volume represents the Confederacy.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars for its literary merits, but it warrants more for its historical value. An extremely interesting inside look at the Confederate cause and at the place of the idealized southern woman in the Civil War. This book was banned in the Union and was still one of the most widely-read of its time due to successful smuggling of copies to the North.

[Wyyknot]

Macaria by Augusta J. Evans (1868)

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Caveat to my rating: This book is completely insane. It is, however, entertainingly so. (Read it for my thesis)

[Chris Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Macaria; or, Altars of Sacrifice" is an 1863 Civil War novel. Beautifully written, it revolves around themes of love, friendship, fate, and duty. The title could not have been more brilliantly chosen as it conveys the parallel of the Ancient Greek story of Macaria, who sacrificed herself on the altar to save Athens. The story raises interesting ethical questions such to what extent one should sacrifice their happiness to better fulfill their duty, as well as when that duty can be properly regarded as being fulfilled. However, despite sacrificing one's happiness to serve a greater cause outside themself, one can still find a deep and profound love and fulfillment in the arms of a friend who remains with them steadfast and unwavering. Evans at times showed her strong bias in favour of the Southern cause, bordering on nationalism, especially when discussing major figures from the North and the South during the war and the sacrifice of many Southern women during the war to uphold the nation.

[Rhys-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read by Augusta Evans Wilson, and while not as good as Beulah, I still enjoyed it. It follows Irene Huntingdon, a wealthy but unhappy heiress, Electra, an artist, and Russell Aubrey, the ambitious man they both love. The writing is beautiful, as Evans's prose always is. Evans was a devoted Confederate, so this book was written from that viewpoint.

[bayli brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

My professor said to approach this novel as an artifact. It was like a soap opera of underdeveloped characters and then half way through, it switched to Confederate propaganda. Not necessarily a good read, but a very interesting read.