Yankee Women: Gender Battles in the Civil War

“Vivid. . . . Yankee Woman forms a valuable contribution to the study of a pivotal event in American history and credibly delves beneath the hagiographies to the messy politics of women’s involvement in what was for them a new arena of public life.” —Julie Wheelwright, London Sunday Times

Yankee Woman examines the experiences of women in the Civil War and, in particular, the lives of three courageous and independent women: one a frontline nurse, the second a community organizer, and the third the only woman to serve as a Union army surgeon in the war. Elizabeth Leonard’s in-depth research and her ability to spin a captivating tale combine to make Yankee Woman both a fascinating study of gender politics in society and a thoroughly absorbing story—the story of three women ahead of their time.