The Fall of Natchez

by Sabra Waldfogel

She was a Southern belle… until she met a Union officer.

Natchez, Mississippi, 1863. In the midst of war, Rosa Levy, daughter of a Jewish dry goods merchant, is bored to tears. Her father wants her to marry into a rich and established Southern Jewish family. But she doesn’t. Trapped behind the counter of her father’s shop, she yearns for escape. She dreams of adventure.

Captain Marcus Cohen, a Union man from Ohio, isn’t the only antislavery advocate in his regiment. But he’s the only Jew. As a victor at Vicksburg, now the commander of a company of Black contraband men, love is the last thing on his mind. Until he meets Rosa…

United by religion, divided by war, can they call a truce long enough to fall in love?

Genres: Historical Fiction

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2021

About the author

Sabra Waldfogel grew up far from the South in Minneapolis. She studied history at Harvard University and received her Ph.D. in American History from the University of Minnesota and since then, has been fascinated by the drama of slavery and freedom in the decades before and after the Civil War.

Her short story “Yemaya” appeared in the Winter 2013 Fiction Issue of Sixfold. Her first novel, Sister of Mine, published by Lake Union, was named the 2017 winner of the Audiobook Publisher's Association Audie Award for fiction. In her free time, not tired of history, she collects antiques and helps her husband sell them.

Reviews

[Vicki Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! This book was nothing like I assumed it would be, IT WAS MUCH BETTER and I am still having a difficult time trying to find the words to do a proper review. Parts of the story were based on true happenings surrounding true events, while others were added for the purpose of story telling. Put those together and the author has created a very poignant and gripping tale of a small community during the final days of the Civil War. The characters, whether black or white, grabbed at your heartstrings and kept the story moving at a clipped pace from beginning to end. A relatively sweet, clean romance that will make you sit back and think when you finish. Well done Sabra Waldfogel!

I received an ARC copy of this book, but this is totally my voluntary, honest and completely personal review with my own opinions.
VICKI FROM WYOMING

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone that has an interest in the history of the United States and particularly in the Civil War should take the time to read this novel. I highly recommend reading the "Historical Note" provided by the author at the end of the novel. Clarification details important elements in the quality of presentation tucked between the covers of this book that is now preserved for generations to come and the fiction created by the author's imagination that combine for a page-turning reading experience.

This is not merely a historical fiction story of a young woman trying to please her widowed father as she attempts to navigate the future in the midst of the Civil War after an "arranged" engagement ends due to the death of her fiancé. The story in the setting of Natchez, Mississippi, delves into the differences "above" and "below" hill in Natchez and Jewish families trying to be true to their religious beliefs in the midst of a nearby Union encampment and food shortages created by blockades. It also highlights the decisions made by enslaved men and women who wanted to escape their owners and those that were living in one of the contraband camps with their children.

One of the reasons I enjoy reading historical fiction is that I am immersed in a different time period and setting and each author illuminates history's untold stories. Through the characters we feel the complexity of the issues in a personal way. With each author's research and their own creativity multiple perspectives are created for different time periods and/or events.

I found this story to present different aspects of the Civil War for which I had no knowledge. It captured my attention and I'll remember this story for a long time to come. I highly recommend this novel.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of historical fiction, I enjoyed reading about the Civil War from the unique viewpoint of a southern Jewish woman. It was surprising to me that the Jewish community of Natchez supported slavery, and so did Rosa Levy. I expected them to be abolitionists like the Quakers were.

I did have a problem with some of the language in the story. As a southern woman, I doubt that any slave owners ever referred to them as "servants," as happened frequently in this story, and the horrors of slavery shouldn't be minimized. Rosa had been raised by her family's slave, Bessie, who lived with them in their small apartment over their dry goods store. Rosa clearly loved her, so I found it strange that she had no idea that Bessie had an extended family or even what her last name was. Despite these issues, I enjoyed The Fall of Natchez and will read more from this author.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Fall of Natchez, and it was excellent! As usual, the author, Sabra Waldfogel, did not disappoint. This book feels like a sequel to Neither Death Nor Distance, since Rosa was mentioned in that story. I also appreciated that the author incorporated Penelope into The Fall of Natchez. Like Neither Death Nor Distance, this book focuses on Rosa’s journey to freedom—to be independent, to make her own decisions as a woman, to follow her heart in love, and to fight against slavery.

The ending was beautifully written: Rosa fell in love, married the man of her dreams, and was welcomed into a family that loved and supported her—unlike her selfish father. This book is truly amazing, and I cannot wait to see what Sabra Waldfogel has in store next!

[Marilyn Carvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the characters, the setting was made real, the conflicts, struggles were multi-layered. Easy not to put down once I got past the first part. (Who edited this? Back story distracting, and a few minor "business" factors were confusing.) But we admire the author's ability to delve into the details of history and bring it to life with such strong characters. And the theme of freedom vs. slavery in its various forms, whether with racial, gender or some other societal form was beautifully delivered.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this heartwarming story set in the civil war era. Rosa Levy is a young woman working in her Father's dry goods store when a Yankee officer comes in to buy material. This story of their love and problems that try to prevent them from being together kept me turning the pages. I loved the way the story was told during a war with well researched details. It is well written and the characters were believable. They could be our friends....highly recommend. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Elaine L Pickrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed, and have to disagree with others who have written reviews. I found myself eye rolling at times over the conversations and the use of “current terminology” and language while at the same time attempting to immerse the reader in history from 160yrs ago. While I do believe that it is important to study history, and appreciate the authors’ scholarly accomplishments, I was just not impressed by how this story or characters were portrayed.

[MRS C MARSHALL · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author and a book different to what I usually
Read.
I was given this book for my honest review
I could not put this down, it gripped you from the beginning
To the end.
A beautiful written story romantic and you feel deeply moved.
I will not spoil you need to read for yourself and enjoy as much as I did

[LINDA BARRETT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natches still stands.

I recently visited Natches under the hill and reading this book filled in many gaps in my learning about the history of the area. The shops and rooms there have been carefully preserved. I can visualize the shop Rosa served her customers in. Anyone who loves history or the struggle for freedom in any era would enjoy this book.

[Anne Peugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting!

Story was slow with little real action so I didn't give it more stars. That said, I really liked seeing a story about a Jewish family during the Civil War, not a combination one sees often.

[Margaret A Register]

Fact-based

Although the writing is a very simple style, the book held my interest. Watching people change their views of slavery and seeing them recognize all human life as sacred is a gratifying experience.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by this author. A story of the Civil War in Mississippi and how it affected the locals and military alike. I liked how the relationships evolved between the different characters and how the characters changed as the war affected their lives. Recommended!

[Meeca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending

I love how this story ended with optimism for the future even in pessimistic times. I also appreciate the strength and intelligence of women being displayed throughout this story.

[Gwen Hight · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fall of Natchez

A very good story about life in Matches of a southern bell that fell for a Yankee soldier and the battle she had to see humanity

[Anna Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fall of Natchez

Great story. I loved all the interesting characters and what they did. How they all help the slavery issues during those times.

[sandra stinon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

I throughly enjoyed this book. Sometimes a little hard to follow, but overall a really good read. Highly recommend if you like to read of the Civil War period.

[Diane Moyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sabra Waldfogel is a master at bringing to light all varieties of diverse struggles that occurred during the Civil War and this book is no exception. In this tome, she reveals the toils that the Jewish race was subjected to in the South by both sides. The heroine also must deal with the restrictions that are placed on her because of her sex. This novel delivers not only a page turning story but brings to light unexplored prejudiced that occurred during this time.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an historical novel, based on a real time period in a real town in Mississippi. The era is late Civil War timeframe. The story focuses on a young Jewish woman, Rosa, who manages a "dry goods" store for her father, while he does business elsewhere. She has just lost her fiancé. As the story progresses, she starts to broaden her horizons as she meets other people from outside of the small Jewish community where she has lived her entire life. Her father believes that he wants what's best for her but it's his idea of best, not hers.

A slave has raised her and still cooks and cleans for the family. After a Yankee war vessel opens fire on her small community and kills a child, Rosa's feelings against the Yankees harden. But when she meets a Yankee soldier, he begins to soften her heart and her long held beliefs.

This is a thoughtfully written book, highlighting conflicts and expectations during that time period. Rosa is forced to make decisions that affect not only her life, but those of her small family, and others.

I always enjoy historical books that challenge not only what I've thought, but present new information and viewpoints. Well done! I enjoyed it. I would recommend this book for mature readers. Minimal violence and non-explicit sexual content.