A LIGHT BULB GOES OFF - On the order of getting late smart, I recently realized Letters to Virginia is like Gone With the Wind. Both are the stories of how three families were affected by the Civil War and its aftermath. In GWTW there are the O'Haras, Wilkes' and Hamiltons. In Letters there are the Eaches, Fendalls and Tacketts. Other than the names, the major difference is the latter families are real and the former a figment of Margaret Mitchell's fertile imagination.
Mitchell created a vixen named Scarlett, then imagined over three dozen more characters for her 1000+ page novel but she did not envision a family with brothers on opposite sides of the conflict nor a brother stealing his sister's funds nor the tragic toll of cholera on three families nor one son being disinherited and another becoming an alcoholic. Melanie Hamilton loved her husband, Ashley Wilkes, but he secretly lusted after Scarlett. Jack Tackett lived apart from his wife, due to financial circumstances, but wrote love letters daily to her until four days before he dropped dead in their garden.
There are similarities between the authors, too, but I'll tell you about them later.

Receiving the 2011 J. Michael Miller History Award from the Alexandria Historical Society

Pictured, from left to right, Vola Lawson, Jim Mackay, Barb Winters, Anne Paul

Barb's Banter

My son has been bugging me to bring my blog up-to-date so I'd better do so. In April I had a delightful time with the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). They were very attentive during my presentation, laughed at the right times and bought quite a few books. They also got the autograph of Rita Holtz, a member and the one to whom my book is dedicated. . . Next up was a talk at a retirement home which registered zero in the book sales department. . . Then came the hilite of the month - the Alexandria Historical Society Michael Miller History Award for 2011. With it came a framed declaration of a lot of Whereases, signed by the mayor, and a beautiful round, fluted 13" silver tray engraved with my name. . . I have another presentation next week and Alexandria is going to start their sesquicentennial commemoration on May 21st, at which time I shall be back at UDC. Then I'm planning to branch out to libraries thruout VA to acquaint others with Letters to Virginia and to learn more history about my adopted state.

More from readers: Diane, an author, wrote "I loved your book. It reads like a novel with characters who engage us because we virtually hear their voices - the 'drummer' Jack, as wrongheaded as he is vulnerable, the flighty young Nancy etc. Your narration sets exactly the right tone, not so much the cold all-seeing narrator as the sympathetic listener, writing from the vantage point of the future, setting the historic scene and then, with a touch of suspense and even humor, stepping back." . . .Rita prefers to savor the book. "I'm about half way through your book - into the Fendalls. I cannot read this book fast - I'm afraid I will miss something. It is sooooo interesting." . . . Dawn likes the way "you fill in the information about the battles that Towny writes about." . . . Converse found "Following the lives of three prominent families during the turbulent years of the 1800s was a compelling and enjoyable read."

reviews

Elly, from San Francisco, says: "It is real class. The content is fascinating history and easy to read while being so erudite." René of Arizona, adds: "I think your book is most unusual, very interesting and quite understandable." Ellen, in Alexandria, wrote: "The primary source material is so wonderful and you have done such a great job putting it into context."