Sleeping With Soldiers : In Search of the Macho Man

by Rosemary Daniell

This chronicle of the author's cross-country odyssey focuses on the rationale behind women's preference for macho men over more civilized, respectable males

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Rosemary Daniell's new book, Secrets of the Zona Rosa: How Writing (and Sisterhood) Can Change Women's Lives, was published by Henry Holt and Company in May, 2006. Its prequel, The Woman Who Spilled Words All Over Herself: Writing and Living the Zona Rosa Way, was published by Faber & Faber, in 1997. Her revolutionary memoir, Fatal Flowers: On Sin, Sex and Suicide in the Deep South (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1980; Henry Holt & Company, 1989; Hill Street Press, 1999) won the 1999 Palimpsest Prize for a most-requested out-of-print book, and was re-issued that same year. Along with her second memoir, Sleeping with Soldiers (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1984; Hill Street Press, 2003), it was a forerunner of the current memoir trend. She is the author of five other books of poetry and prose, including and her collection of essays, Confessions of a (Female) Chauvinist (Hill Street Press, 2001), a novel, The Hurricane Season (William Morrow & Company, 1992); two collections of poetry, A Sexual Tour of the Deep South (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1975; Push Button Publishing, 1994) and Fort Bragg & Other Points South (Henry Holt & Company, 1987).

Among her awards are two N.E.A. Fellowships in creative writing, one in poetry, another in fiction. In addition, her features and reviews have appeared in numerous magazines and papers, including Harper’s Bazaar, New York Woman, Mademoiselle, The New York Times Book Review and Mother Jones; she has also been a guest on many national radio and television shows, such as Merv Griffin, Donahue, The Diane Rehm Show, Larry King Live and CNN’s “Portrait of America.” She is profiled in the book Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975. In 2008, she received a Governor’s Award in the Humanities for her impact on the state of Georgia; early in her career, she instigated and led writing workshops in women's prisons in Georgia and Wyoming, served as program director for Georgia's Poetry in the Schools, and worked for a dozen years in Poetry in the Schools programs in Georgia, South Carolina, and Wyoming.

Also known as one of the best writing coaches in the country, she is the founder and leader of Zona Rosa, a series of creative writing workshops in Savannah and Atlanta, and cities throughout the world, as described in People and Southern Living magazines, and attended by such outstanding writers as John Berendt, Bruce Feiler, Pat Conroy, Cassandra King, and Eric Haney. To date, almost 60 Zona Rosans have become published authors. For further information, see Rosemary’s web page at www.myzonarosa.com.


“Rosemary Daniell is one of the great writing teachers I’ve seen at work in the country.” – Pat Conroy

“Rosemary Daniell is enormously gifted. Her work is risky – in the best sense of the word. She is one of the women by whom our age will be known in times to come.” – Erica Jong

“She has…proved just how earthy, inspiring, and even rapturous her take on the creative process can be.” – People

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in the mid-'80s, this memoir is definitely of another era. Daniell is searching for machismo in America, her excuse for an inward journey to discover why she is inherently attracted to the macho man.

[Myra Breckinridge · Rating 1 out of 5]

A tiresome onslaught of one self-proclaimed feminist’s sexual liaisons with racists, rapists, and rednecks in the 70s/80s. There are books of other times that still have something to say. This is just a woman who finds her fascination with crude and uneducated men so innately fascinating that she presents it without the slightest insight, reflection, or literary flair to make it interesting.

[Gideon Maxim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, I guess this is one of those books that offends and intrigues in equal measure. Along with Mother Nature (much more sciency) Mother Nature: Maternal Instincts and How They Shape the Human Species.

I thought there were some really good insights into behavior and motivation: hers and others. In some ways it reads like an 'on the road' series of encounters and relationships with different men, and of course her own thoughts.

I liked it and appreciated her frankness. Yes, it's dated, but not by content, only in context of the language of moral fashion du jour.

One thing, it's her point of view. She's not writing science.

Highly recommended for those not too overly-sensitized. I want to read it again.

[Reese Forbes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rather dull for a book primarily about sexual activity. Perhaps because I was once a soldier myself. Doubt the problem stems from the fact the author is female as there have been some excellent female erotic writers and poets.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosemary is a force of nature in this book. She settles the question of the Macho man, in my mind. Especially loved her totally unpredictable experience at a Soldier of Fortune conference.

[Sarah]

This lady is a gem. Saw her speak in Savannah.