Harboring the Enemy
The Civil War Heroine History Forgot
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Pub Date Nov 7 2026 | Archive Date Feb 15 2027
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Description
"Compelling dramatization of a Charleston woman’s secret Civil War heroics." —Booklife (Publisher's Weekly)
"A simply fascinating read from start to finish...reads with all the emotional suspense and thrills of a novel" - Midwest Book Review
Charleston, 1861. Anna Itgen is a twenty-year-old German immigrant, newly married and expecting her first child, when cannon fire erupts from Fort Sumter and upends her world. Within months, her husband is killed at the Battle of Port Royal.
As a single mother, Anna works alongside her neighbors to survive the Union blockade, all while a Confederate prison sits within view of her window, packed with starving captives. She begins slipping bread to guards and prisoners alike. Then she hides an escaped Union officer in her cellar and is summoned before the Confederate provost marshal on charges that could hang her.
Choosing her integrity over self-preservation, Anna Itgen risked everything for a stranger who wore the wrong uniform.
A clean read grounded in a true story, Harboring the Enemy is for readers of Erik Larson's The Demon of Unrest and Karen Abbott's Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy.
Advance Praise
"Compelling dramatization of a Charleston woman’s secret Civil War heroics." —Booklife (Publisher's Weekly)
"A simply fascinating read from start to finish... an impressively original and unreservedly recommended addition to American Civil War History/Biography collections." —Midwest Book Review
Marketing Plan
Harboring the Enemy launches November 7, 2026 — the 165th anniversary of the Battle of Port Royal, a pivotal event in the book's narrative — with a launch event in the works at Buxton Books in Charleston, SC, the very city where the story takes place. The campaign is anchored by trade reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and BookLife, expected in early October, which will drive targeted media outreach to Civil War history, women's history, and German-American heritage press in the weeks leading into launch. Additional promotion includes trade and wholesaler distribution through Ingram, regional Southern media coverage tied to the Charleston setting, and social media campaigns highlighting the book's status as a documented true story reclaimed from a 1915 newspaper interview.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780981848983 |
| PRICE | $15.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 175 |
Links
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Average rating from 9 members
Featured Reviews
Maureen T, Reviewer
What a gift this read is, a story told by your great-grandmother, wow!
As a young girl, she came to the US from Germany and settled in Charleston SC, and we follower her as she crosses the ocean, not once but twice.
We are there with Anna as the Civil War starts, and all the losses, but she is not an ordinary person, she follows her heart and faith. Yes, she does get in trouble, but how it is handled is sure different and inspirational!
This page turning read and I looked at the authors web site, https://www.rcduffy.com/, and enjoyed all the bonus information.
I did enjoy this very quick read true story!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher American Legacy Media, and was not required to give a positive review.
Valerie S, Reviewer
A wonderful read that’s written by the subject’s great-granddaughter. A work of tribute to family and love, Anna lived an incredible life, brought to us as a story by this author. She did so much research to make it as authentic as possible and it’s quite an exciting tale.
Librarian 2162885
I give this a 5 star rating. The intrique of new emmigrants to the US, their struggles, leaving, & coming back years later shows a true version of what most go through. The intensity of the war, added with an upcoming birth, andded with a husband sent to a war zone truely made for intense moments. The details of what went on in Anna's daily life and her determination to help out anyone, no matter of what ethnic or politial background is very touching, I hope we can get this message out to the world, not just the United States. We have such contensions and hate, but aren't we all the same: people who just want to live their lives in peace and let their children bask in peace and harmony with all people.
I love the Notes and sources at the end of the book, very well researched. Thank you!
Shauna R, Reviewer
The extensive research done to flesh out this personal narrative puts the reader at the center of the action, and being based on the life of the author’s own ancestor adds heart to the story. From the challenges of being an immigrant, to a war widow, to the risks involved in sticking to one’s values, the story line draws readers in from all types of experiences.. Anna’s faith and fortitude ring true and are genuinely inspiring. Her experiences will leave the readers on the edge of their seats, rooting for her every step of the way.
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