Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

As a lover of history I love when I can read primary accounts of people who have lived through major world events. When it comes in the version of a diary I am even more excited (maybe because I am noisy). Although I did not like the writer, Emma, I did enjoy reading about her experience during the Civil War. The writers of this book do a very good job of giving a good background and explanation of certain things via their introduction. Would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys first hand accounts or the Civil War.

Emma Mordecai (October 6, 1812–April 8, 1906) was an American educator, diarist, slave owner, outspoken supporter of the Confederacy and the values of the Old South, and active member of the Jewish community in 19th-century Richmond, Virginia.While some members of her family had converted to Christianity, amidst a climate of antisemitism in the Civil War-era South, Mordecai remained an observant Jew her entire life. She devoted most of her life to educational and religious causes, founding the Jewish Sunday school at Congregation Beth Shalome of Richmond.

The Mordecai family was big and prominent. Her father was Jacob Mordecai, an educational pioneer, and her paternal grandfather was Moses Mordecai. Her mother was Rebecca Myers Mordecai, the second wife of Jacob, and the younger sister of Jacob's deceased first wife Judith. Mordecai's grandfather, Moses, was an Ashkenazi German Jew who married Esther (Elizabeth Hester Whitlock), an English-born convert to Judaism. Moses immigrated from Germany to London and later from London to Philadelphia.Mordecai spent her formative years, living at the Spring Farm slave plantation near Richmond, Virginia.At age 19, her father sold the slave plantation and the Mordecai family moved into Richmond. Her family owned eighteen enslaved African-Americans, some of whom were sold, some of whom were hired out as contract laborers, and some of whom remained with the family in Richmond.

During the spring and summer of 1865,slaves owned by Mordecai began to assert themselves after Richmond was captured by Union forces.Mordecai became increasingly frustrated by the unwillingness of her slaves to work or relocate.Having believed that her slaves reciprocated the love she was sure she had bestowed upon them, Mordecai was distraught that they would want to leave.

In her personal diary, she wrote prayers for the victory of the Confederacy and her own safety, documenting each day of her life. Mordecai's journals between 1864 and 1865 are preserved as part of the Mordecai family papers at UNC-Chapel Hill.Mordecai died aged 93 in Brevard,NC,surrounded by family.She is buried at the Hebrew Cemetery in Richmond.

This was a fascinating read for anyone who is interested in American Jewish history or Civil War history.

The first half isn't the diary itself but an explanation for how the book came to be and historical context, as well as biographical information about Emma Mordecai and her family. The second half is the diary itself.

Emma's Jewishness doesn't come up that much, and I found it interesting that the more things change, the more they stay the same. In this case, Jews tend to blend in with their surroundings. Back then, it meant regarding herself as a Southerner first, with slaves and all. The references to Judaism are more like "It was Yom Kippur today, and I went to services," but there's little to inform her approach to the world, which came from the culture she was living in. She did strive to keep to her religion, but with only 25,000 Jews in the confederate South, and most of her family having married out of the religion, her exposure was limited.

As a Civil War diary, it was replete with interesting information such as what they wore, what food they ate, and how they regarded the Union. It's all typed of course, but the handwritten notes were written so beautifully and I enjoyed reading them.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dianne Ashton's estate, Melissa R. Klapper and NYU Press for an advanced copy for review.

Unfortunately this book choice was not my cup of tea. First, I mistakenly got the impression from the beautiful cover that this was going to be more of a "historical fiction" read rather than an actual diary. I guess I didn't read the description carefully enough. Second, this was not available for kindle and trying to read it on the netgalley app was a pain. I have older eyes and I had to zoom in in order to read it and after a few pages I just gave up, which is too bad. I had really been looking forward to this read. Maybe a hard copy would have been better.

**Thank you to netgalley and the publisher NYU Press for the chance to ready this advanced DRC in exchange for my honest review**

The first half of the book is the introduction, which introduced the reader to Emma Mordecai. It also provides loads of information and facts pertaining to the Civil War. The second half contains excerpts from Emma's diary. I would recommend for any fan of Civil War history. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

In this non-fiction book, the entire of the saved parts of Emma Mordecai's diary are included preceded by a lengthy introduction begun by Prof Dianne Ashton before her untimely death and completed by Prof Melissa Klapper.

Mordecai was a Jewish resident of Richmond, Virginia whose diary recounts the last years of the US Civil War where she lived with a relative on a farm outside of the city. Mordecai came from a well off family and was a slave owner. She fervently defended the "Southern way of life" and spent much of her time tending to hospitalized Confederate soldiers and following the war's progress, especially as it closed in on Richmond.

The academic authors did a good job of covering what is known about Mordecai's life and the context in which she lived, including her views on race, her devotion to Judaism, and the lives of members of her family. There's also a good overview of her life after the war.

It was painful to read the words of a slave owner who called her slaves "servants" but including many denigrating descriptions of the African Americans working for her. I chose to read an ARC of this book because I was curious about the life of a Jewish woman living in the South during the Civil War, but I found the diary difficult to get through.

Emma Mordecai’s diary is a rare first-hand peek into Southern life during the American Civil War. As a single woman, a Jew, and a slave owner, she captures her unique perspective in a fascinating way that is difficult to put down.
The lengthy introduction (over 80 pages) is a book unto itself. Placing Emma in the proper context of geography, culture, and family was very helpful. Reading the actual diary is much easier after all the background information provided. I am very thankful for all the research that went into producing this volume. It is very educational, interesting, and thought provoking. This is an important piece of history that every American should read.
*I received a complimentary copy of this ebook courtesy of NYU Press through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai provides a rare and insightful look into the life of a Jewish woman in the Confederate South. Emma's diary captures the complexities of her identity—Jewish in a predominantly Christian society, unmarried in a culture focused on marriage, and a slave owner upholding Southern values despite her minority status.

Through her detailed observations, readers experience the daily challenges of wartime, from food shortages and hospital visits to the impact of nearby battles and the aftermath of emancipation.

This diary is a valuable historical document that highlights the intersection of religion, gender, and Confederate nationalism, offering a unique perspective on the Civil War from a Emma's personal lens. I highly recommend reading.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you're an American history buff, you'll find this book fascinating. I had not read any accounts of the Civil War period by Jewish women so that was an added perk for me. This is a fine addition to the genre of Jewish American History and will particularly be appreciated by Jewish women (of which I am one).

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It gives such a great look at Emma and her life!

[I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley]

<I><B>The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai</B></I> edited and with an introduction by Dianne Ashton, with Melissa R. Klapper, is a unique and ultimately enlightening document that gives readers insight into the perspective of a Jewish woman living in (and supporting) the Confederate South.

Strictly speaking, 'The Civil War Diary' is not actually Emma's original 1864-1865 Diary. It is derived from a typed 1886 transcript that Emma created of her diaries which had, as Emma notes in varying moments of the text, been partially destroyed by rodents, insects, and general wear and tear.

Thankfully, both the original diary papers and the transcript still exist, so we are able to know that the 1886 transcript retains spelling mistakes, punctuation, etc, from the original diary, and that is not a rewrite but an authentic capture of what Emma wrote during 1864-1865.

What is added are occasional dates, explanations, and even side comments. In one entry where Emma writes down that she was told an excellent joke, her 1886 added note laments: "Wish I had recorded the joke--wonder I didn't."

Emma's diary captures what ends up being the last months of the Civil War. While the earlier entries boast about Confederate successes--including a nasty entry where Emma seemingly gleefully recounts a black Union soldier being captured and forced to be the personal slave of a Confederate officer--it soon builds into Confederate losses and the total restructuring of Emma's world.

Most notably, Emma and those around her are forced to confront a new reality where slaves are no longer slaves, and where they are no longer beholden to treat Emma with inherent deference and respect. Emma's response is to bitterly write of the enslaved people in her sister's household, now leaving to make their own way: "They will now begin to find out how easy their life as slaves has been, & to feel the slavery of their freedom."

As the formerly enslaved people of the household gradually decide to make a life elsewhere, Emma and the others must become accustomed to doing their own labor, as finding servants--now actual paid servants, rather than the polite euphemism Emma typically uses to refer to slaves--to help is difficult.

Emma writes, "Felt stiff and sore with my unaccustomed labours of yesterday." She even complains of the fact that she felt no gratitude from the rest of the household for her work--one must wonder how often the enslaved people in the household felt true gratitude from Emma and her family.

Emma's life as a Jewish woman also plays a key role in the text. Emma writes of religious days, of going to the synagogue, and her religious believes are intertwined with her belief in the Confederacy and her way of coping with the world around her. As a reader, it can be frustrating to read Emma's religious thoughts, only to be followed a few pages later by her lamenting the idea of freedom for those around her.

About 50% of the book is dedicated to a lengthy introduction, although I think calling it simply an "introduction" does this section of the text a disservice. The introduction provides necessary and enlightening context into the events and world of the diary, along with important information about Emma and the other people mentioned throughout the text. The analysis of the text in this section is also invaluable.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in Civil War texts or historial memoirs. This unflinching look into the attitude of a Southern woman during the final year of the Civil War is a must-read for anyone with an interest in this era, especially if you are looking for a diarist who wrote fairly bluntly about the bitterness and condescension she felt towards the abolition of slavery.

The life story of Emma was educational as it was endearing to learn how a young, Jewish women had lived during the Civil War. With it being only one of a handful of diaries still in existence from the Cuvil War, it documented everyday life, and her ideas and beliefs. It shares a glimpse into what life was like and a unique look at the war that was raging on around her.

The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordechai is absolutely wonderful. The writers did an amazing job of adding bits and pieces of relevant information together as they went through the diary, helping to bring it to life. Emma's story is told from a perspective I had never thought about. I love the non-bias way Emma's story was told, allowing the reader to judge for themselves. I would definitely recommend this to any and everyone.

This is an interesting and informative book! I was immediately drawn into the book after reading the foreword by Richard Drucker- (husband of the deceased Dr. Dianne Ashton).

The first half of the book is the introduction, which introduced the reader to Emma Mordecai. It also provides loads of information and facts pertaining to the Civil War. The second half contains excerpts from Emma's diary.

The subject of racism and particularly southern Jewish racism was something I never knew about. It was eye-opening, to say the least. The book whetted my interest concerning this subject.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from New York University Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma Mordecai, a Jewish woman in the Old South, lived an unusual life as an unmarried American-born Jew who maintained her faith while family members embraced Christianity. Her Civil War diary, one of the few kept by a Jewish woman in the antebellum South, reveals her views on Confederate nationalism, Southern identity, and women's roles in wartime. The diary also chronicles her experiences with dislocation and the loss of her home, providing insight into the racist social and political structures of her time.

This was an intriguing look into the everyday life of the women who kept the home while the men of their family fought in the war. It was also interesting to get a glimpse into how the belief of racial superiority was not dependent on religion. Emma Mordecai’s views, the horror she felt when her side faced defeat, ring through the words she penned at the time. I certainly didn’t agree with what she wrote, but I was interested in how she went about life at the time.

The introduction does a wonderful job of explaining some of the details before the reader is introduced to them. Readers who are interested in a blunt look at something that really happened will enjoy reading this.

In the Civil War diary of Emma Mordecai by Diane Ashton and Melissa Clapper it is about a Jewish woman living in Richmond Virginia and losing her home due to the Civil War in the year long diaries she kept about her woe’s and tribulations throughout the 12 months she documented in her journal. She was forced to move with her brother and sister-in-law and we hear about all the changes she goes through not only the isolation of moving from the city to the country but the indignity she felt when first coming up on freed black men who spoke to her without deference and her bewilderment at them not knowing their place. I know a lot of people will read this and think badly of Emma and her racist viewpoints because most people cannot see past their own nose but for those who realize Emma it’s just a product of her time then you will probably enjoy this book. I love reading life from others points of views, this isn’t the actual diary,but a Jewish historian talking about her diary. It was started by Doctor of history Diane Ashton but due to her untimely death it was finished by her colleague and friend Dr. Melissa Clapper. This is a great book and a great view into the lives and opinions that would help form those opinions in a time that may be baffling to the modern day reader. My favorite quote is by Maya Angelou and it is when we know better we do better and after reading this book and getting to know Emma as much as I could through the narrative I would love to think her opinions would’ve been different had she been born at a different time but she was a product of her raising end it pains me to think anyone would think ill of this lonely woman when they haven’t even walked a block in her shoes. I do wish it was her actual diary but the authors explaining her statements made it an even better read. I just wish we would have at least got excerpts directly from her diary but I digress it was still an awesome book and one I absolutely loved and totally recommend for any fan of history the Civil War Jewish history in women’s history ETC. I want to thank NYU press for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

As as history major, I love a great book filled with honesty of what life was like. This book was so beautiful and informative. It was wonderfully put together, and so deep but also so simple. I was engulfed from the first page. This is a book that would be great in high schools and collages to explain the civil war. Wonderfully done! Highly suggest.

This a story about a Jewish woman in the Civil War South. I had never thought about the Jews in America at that time. It was very interesting and well written. Informative, great read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai" offers a rare and insightful glimpse into the life of a Jewish woman in the Confederate South during the Civil War. Emma Mordecai's diary provides a unique perspective on the social, cultural, and religious dynamics of the time, highlighting her experiences as a minority in a predominantly Christian society.

The diary not only details Emma's daily life but also explores broader themes such as Confederate nationalism, Southern identity, and the complexities of slave-owning households. Emma's steadfast commitment to her Jewish faith and practices adds depth to her character and underscores the challenges she faced in maintaining her identity in a society that often marginalized those who were different.

Overall, "The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai" is a valuable historical document that offers a nuanced and compelling portrait of a woman grappling with the complexities of life in the Confederate South. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the Civil War era or in the experiences of minority groups during this tumultuous time in American history. #TheCivilWarDiaryofEmmaMordecai #NetGalley

The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai by Edited and with an introduction by Dianne Ashton with Melissa R. Klapper is a great nonfiction/memoir that I really enjoyed.

This is an interesting glimpse into both the unique and “ordinary” world of a woman during the Civil War. Through these journal entries we can see the specific concerns and challenges that Emma experienced due to being Jewish, and also some of the things that all women experienced to some degree during this time.

The significant introduction, historical context, and background that was given before the entries are produced gives a wealth of knowledge to help the reader understand a bit more about Emma, her surroundings, and the time that she lived in. The selected images were also a lovely addition.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and NYU Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/29/24.