Macaria

by Augusta Jane Evans Wilson

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Academic

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1864

About the author

Augusta Jane Wilson, or Augusta Evans Wilson, (May 8, 1835 – May 9, 1909) was an American Southern author and one of the pillars of Southern literature. She wrote nine novels: Inez (1850), Beulah (1859), Macaria (1863), St. Elmo (1866), Vashti (1869), Infelice (1875), At the Mercy of Tiberius (1887), A Speckled Bird (1902), and Devota (1907). Given her support for the Confederate States of America from the perspective of a Southern patriot, and her literary activities during the American Civil War, she can be deemed as having contributed decisively to the literary and cultural development of the Confederacy in particular, and of the South in general, as a civilization.

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.