Winnie Davis: Daughter of the Lost Cause

She was born Varina Winnie Anne Davis in the White House of the Confederate States shortly after her 5 year old brother died of a fall A year later her mother and namesake gathered her and her siblings to flee their home as Richmond fell to the Union As a toddler, she was the only child allowed to see her father, the former CSA President, in his post war incarceration They bonded.Too young to know the war but shaped by its aftermath, Winnie aimed to please her parents who were finding their way [...]

Daughter of the Lost Cause is the poignant story of Winnie Davis, one of the last casualties of the Civil War Jefferson Davis s youngest daughter was destined by birth to carry the torch of the Confederacy It was an obligation she never asked for but could never refuse She had the then modern advantage of an education in Europe, which gave her the intellectual tools and the ambition to break free from a domineering mother and a cosseted upbringing in the defeated south But her willingness to be [...]

I won this book in a giveaway This fascinating biography deals with the life of Winnie Davis, the youngest daughter of Jefferson and Varina Davis After the War Between the States, many who had supported the Confederacy tried to make Winnie a symbol of enduring Southern virtues While her life was lived out not as a symbol, but as a human being, the War overshadowed everything she did Her role as The Daughter of the Confederacy had a profound impact on her major life decisions, at times causing he [...]

This book is the first biography of Varina Anne Winnie Davis, the youngest child of Confederate president Jefferson Davis Born at the end of the Civil War, Winnie eventually became a living symbol of the Southern wife and family for defeated Confederates Although highly educated in Germany and very publicly engaged, Winnie died young and single Winnie was the sixth and youngest child of Jefferson Davis and his second wife Varina Jefferson s first wife died tragically just months after their marr [...]

A very well written and well researched biography that is also extremely readable and entertaining A fascinating look at Jefferson Davis tragic family and an exploration of the post war south through the life of his daughter Winnie I did not think that there were stories to tell about this era, but Heath Hardage Lee has found some Highly recommend.

I picked this up at Chop Suey Books probably my favorite indie book shop on Cary Street in Richmond Hadn t heard of it but it was on the front tablead it in one big gulp Interesting stuff, compellingly written Shout out to Wonton the cat

Heath Hardage Lee deserves five stars for being the first scholar to unearth and tell this fascinating story It boggles the mind that it took so long for Winnie to earn her own biography The book deserves another five stars for being a wonderfully written and powerful read.

heath does justice to this interesting woman and defines the Davis family exquisitely

What a snooze fest Book club selection Really awful writing, bad editing and a boring subject Read like a poorly written masters thesis.

This book was well written, but left me very sad for this daughter of Jefferson Davis who was thrust into the limelight during the aftermath of the Civil War, and the sacrifices that she was forced to make because of her lineage.

Great book, very enjoyable read This is a wonderful book that not only tells the story of Jefferson Davis youngest child, but also of the Jefferson Davis family in general, Richmond during the war, the fall of Richmond, reconstruction and the post war South.The book begins by telling of the death of Joe Davis, Jeff and Varina Davis youngest son Following this was the death of JEB Stuart which was seen as an ominous sign by Southern soldiers By contrast the birth of Winnie was thought to be a goo [...]

My roots run South in this country therefore, I was instantly intrigued by this novel.I m very familiar with The Daughters of the Confederacy, and the prodigal daughter that started it all, but this author has taken an extraordinary approach by reintroducing Winnie Davis to the world in a most intimate manner Starting from her birth, we get a detailed background on how Winnie s future was forged by the chaotic world to which she was born This young woman was thrust into situations that exceeded [...]

I enjoyed every moment of this luminous and moving biography of the beautiful and accomplished Winnie, although it s an extremely harrowing story at times Winnie, the long suffering daughter of the President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis, grew up in the shadow of her parents She saw how her father s ill treatment in prison affected him, and her parents lost all of their sons Her mother understandably became deeply depressed, and this wasn t helped by Davis s tendency to become infatuated wi [...]

I have to confess that 19th century American history is not my specialty and that I knew next to nothing about Winnie Davis before reading this compelling biography I admire author Heath Hardage Lee s tenacity and perseverance in trying to uncover the real Winnie Davis, hidden behind her public persona as Daughter of the Confederacy , an identity with which it seemed she was not entirely comfortable I found Winnie Davis to be quite relatable, torn between what she felt to be her duty to her pare [...]

This is not a rehashing of the book but an out and out recommendation I just finished reading Winnie Davis Daughter of the Lost Cause Plowed through it at top speed For history and especially women s history readers, it is a must read At the same time it feels contemporary the confederate veterans echo Trump s followers in their zealotry and rigidity The tension between breaking free of tradition and surviving, rather than staying dependent on controlling admirers, is compelling and at times fam [...]

Although this biography is thoroughly researched and tells a fascinating tale, the author has the unfortunate tendency to indulge in gross generalization and over simplification of both the American South and Victorian culture at large Although clearly well researched, these interludes detract heavily from the work as a whole and mar an otherwise impressive work of scholarship Those interested in Varina Anne Davis would be better served reading a contemporaneously written biography.

I feel bad giving this only 2 stars because I know the author and she is lovely The book, however, just didn t draw me in Written in a very academic, well researched fashion, I just didn t feel like I got to know and love Winnie like the author does.

Just finished this book that I received as a gift Absolutely fascinating I was stunned at some of the information that I learned I had read a biography on Varina several years ago had no inkling that all of this with Winnie had happened Such a tragic life.

About half way though this book, really enjoying it It is written with wit and southern charm, bringing Winnie s tale to life.

I found this book for sale in the White House of the Confederacy This was very interesting and an excellent book