The new novel from the number one bestselling author of Cold Mountain - a stunning portrait of
the devastation left by the American Civil War as seen through the eyes of a woman who played
a part at the heart of it.Sooner or later history asks: which side were you on?'Moving' Sunday
Times'Here's a woman of the Civil War to outshine Scarlett O'Hara' The Times'Beneath the
chilling photogenic story the writing remains beautiful' - IndependentWith her marriage
prospects ruined in the wake of her father's financial decline teenage Varina Howell decides
her best option is to wed the much-older widower Jefferson Davis with whom she expects a life
of security as a Mississippi landowner. When he instead pursues a career in politics and is
appointed President of the Confederacy it puts Varina at the white-hot centre of one of the
darkest moments in American history - culpable regardless of her intentions.As the Confederacy
preparesto surrender and she finds herself friendless and alone Varina and her children escape
Richmond. With her marriage in tatters and the country divided they travel south now
fugitives with 'bounties on their heads an entire nation in pursuit'.
