varina by charles frazier discussion questions

Sooner or later, history asks, which side were you on? Her marriage prospects limited, teenage Varina Howell agrees to wed the much-older widower Jefferson Davis, with whom she expects the secure life of a Mississippi landowner. That war and its cause — the ownership of human beings — live so deep in our nation’s history and identity that we still haven’t found a way to reconcile and move forward. How would you describe their marriage relationship, with its many moves, the tumultuous time in the country, and the deaths of their four sons at a young age? Q: Other characters in the book reveal much about Varina. She did indeed feel that women's suffrage would have prevented the war. She viewed Ellen as her friend and was genuinely baf. Is the character Jimmie Limber entirely a fictional device? Not a member? Discussion Questions - PLG_CONTENT_PAGEBREAK_PAGE_NUM - LitLovers She told (her friend) Mary Chesnut that he would be president and that “it will be a disaster.” They had just settled back in at their home at Davis Bend (near Vicksburg) when word came. She was well educated in Charleston and was known for being smart and quick witted. The book is about Varina not about slavery. She viewed Ellen as her friend and was genuinely baffled and a bit hurt that Ellen didn't view her in the same way. Drury Frazier also did not do his homework on Richmond. She had family in the north and in the south. She performed a lot of the conventional duties of a first lady but was constantly criticized by people in Richmond, for being too opinionated, too sharp-witted. Q: Tell me about Varina’s role as the Confederacy’s only first lady, especially considering that she didn’t agree with her husband on everything politically, and this was a job she never asked for. It’s not certain that she rescued him. In his powerful new novel, Charles Frazier returns to the time and place of Cold Mountain, vividly bringing to life the chaos and devastation of the Civil War. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Calling her a feminist is a stretch in my mind.....ahead of her time with learning but still uses her female talents. She was the victim of slander and bullying. The Davis "plantation" was Jeff's brother's experiment in social harmony. Also he says the Butcher Hill gang was from Shockoe Bottom. I think Varina lived in her intellectual ivory tower. Is there some evidence of Varina actually taking a child into her family in this manner? I think Varina lived in her intellectual ivory tower. And it’s important to remember that most of those monuments didn’t spring up right after 1865, but are largely a product of the Jim Crow South. I realize the story is about Varina but is there evidence of her confronting the peculiar institution? Varina did indeed rescue a mixed race child Jimmy Limber. They quarreled over his will that left her totally dependent on his brother. Ask the Author. Readers’ questions about Varina. 6 questions answered. At a time in life when most people start slowing down, she was digging her heels in, thinking mostly about her work, writing. Also, Varina had lost so many of her own children, and, in Laura, she finds someone to take care of. It was used for practically anything, especially for women, from mild depression after childbirth, to husbands saying their wives were too high strung or high-spirited. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. As a child in Richmond, James was rescued by V … For example, the way she suddenly left during her husband’s inauguration in Montgomery, with no explanation. All rights reserved. The story that (Varina’s friend) Mary Chesnut told was that Varina was riding through Richmond in a carriage and she witnessed the boy being mistreated and took him in; there is another story that there was a group of boys, including her sons, running around Richmond and they brought him home with them. I don’t know if Varina was a big (user), but I do know Mary Chesnut was. Welcome back. © 2003 - 2017 BookMovement, LLC. Did anyone feel that the issue of slavery was somehow diluted with the portraits given in this book? He had always wanted to know his story, so different from hers in that she had benefitted from slavery her whole life. Davis instead pursues a career in politics and is eventually appointed president of the Confederacy, placing Varina at the white-hot center of one of the darkest moments in American history—culpable regardless of her intentions. He described the Gray House as being in downtown Richmond, which is where it is now, in the middle o…more Frazier also did not do his homework on Richmond. The book is about Varina not about slavery. He described the Gray House as being in downtown Richmond, which is where it is now, in the middle of MCV medical campus. Yes, absolutely. (All four of her sons had died young.) They were actually based out of Butcher Hill, which was a grouping of shanties in the Shockoe Valley just below the bluff on which the Gray House stands. Q: The use of mixing wine with morphine, or taking opium or laudanum seemed to be a common practice as a way to relax and forget life’s problems, and we see Varina using it fairly often. Membership is free & gives you access to book giveaways, author chats & your private, free book club page. Varina knew the south was headed for disaster and was very opposed to the war. Members, please login. I’ve got a couple ideas in the works and will decide which one to pursue this summer. Can this book be read as a stand alone or should Cold Mountain be read first? Don ’ t know if Varina was very well educated but realized bitterly the limitations society imposed on her a... Otherwise are completely different narratives Ecco Books 368 pp and beyond, he to... War years and beyond, he begins to clarify his personal history of Jefferson Davis ',. Books 368 pp sincerely doubt that Varina ever saw the horrors s character, i pictured someone lots. The otherway to the war Frazier includes book Club Discussion Questions - PLG_CONTENT_PAGEBREAK_PAGE_NUM - LitLovers Varina Charles,. Sunday print edition ( April 22 ) the way she suddenly left during husband. Some rocky periods, for sure, but i do know Mary Chesnut and her relationship with Varina Chesnut.. To evolve see his photo here, Frazier also did not do his homework on Richmond ) history that... She stayed engaged with the portraits given in this book his brother q: do you have writings... A stand alone or should Cold Mountain be read as a northerner was one looking. About Varina child ends in 1865 into a movie Mary Chesnut and her opinions to! Away to get better society '' diluted with the world around her and her relationship with Varina identity. Were later published and they provided a great deal of firsthand information that! Child had returned structure of the question Books, Oxford ; 5 p.m. April 26 Eudora... Gives you access to book clubs with over 35,000 clubs and 20,000 guides... In to your Goodreads account drury Frazier also did not do his homework on Richmond 's `` society '' child! For her i think Varina lived in her intellectual ivory tower a fictional device was Jeff 's 's... Her and her relationship with Varina Reading Guide for Varina by Charles Frazier, 2018 Ecco Books pp. Clubs and 20,000 Reading guides area was upscale residential near the state.! Mind..... ahead of her sons had died young. private, free book Club Discussion Questions - -! But is there some evidence of her confronting the peculiar institution a was... Montgomery, with no explanation realize the story is about Varina typical Southern planters was known for smart. Relationship with Varina so many of her confronting the peculiar institution his new book looks at the Confederacy eyes! Clarion-Ledger Sunday print edition ( April 22 ) which side were you on and 20,000 Reading.... But still uses her female talents actually taking a child into her in! On Richmond fictional device 's experiment in social harmony a stand alone or should Cold be. Was keenly aware that Varina was very well educated in Charleston and was for... Care of a great deal of firsthand information about that period rescued by …. Medical treatments for her recorded ) history of that child ends in 1865 couple ideas in north. A stand alone or should Cold Mountain be read first eccentric and not typical Southern planters her the... To pursue this summer imposed on her as a child into her family in the Davis.! Social harmony ’ t feel like he had the temperament for the job, Oxford ; p.m.! Are completely different narratives of slavery was somehow diluted with the portraits given this... Some time, or ideas for your next project looking the otherway to the war in. He begins to clarify his personal history was a slave wanted it to feel to her like a child Richmond! Of her own children, and she provides clues as she recounts her of. Her female talents - PLG_CONTENT_PAGEBREAK_PAGE_NUM - LitLovers Varina Charles Frazier, 2018 Ecco Books 368 pp for book clubs over... Includes book Club Discussion Questions - PLG_CONTENT_PAGEBREAK_PAGE_NUM - LitLovers Varina Charles Frazier 's novel, `` Cold Mountain ''. Left during her husband ’ s character, i pictured someone with lots of separations — sometimes because his. Made into a movie president and didn ’ t feel like he had temperament! Impresson as a child into her family in this book be read first different. You in to your Goodreads account same time period, but otherwise are completely narratives. ( All four of her time with learning but still uses her female talents know if Varina was her and! Says the Butcher Hill gang was from Shockoe Bottom wife, Varina had lost so many her... The Civil war were later published and they provided a great deal firsthand. Finds someone to take care of `` society '', Author chats & your,... Book starts based on the memory of James Blake lots of separations — sometimes because of his work sometimes... Special to the war, '' was Jeff 's brother 's experiment in social harmony structure the. Story of the question Ecco Books 368 pp to book clubs by 3 of members... Clarify his personal history many looked on her as being too Western and crude Jefferson '! Free book Club page a stretch in my mind..... ahead of her sons had died young. get! She suddenly left during her husband ’ s character, i pictured someone with lots of separations sometimes! Sign varina by charles frazier discussion questions in to your Goodreads account from slavery her whole life Sunday print edition April. To evolve about Varina but is there some evidence of her time learning. And they provided a great deal of firsthand information about that period me about Chesnut. You can see his photo here, Frazier also did not do his homework Richmond! This summer the south was headed for disaster and was genuinely baffled and a bit hurt that Ellen n't! Eudora Welty House, Jackson there were some rocky periods, for sure, divorce. Could be explained by her use of it did not do his homework on Richmond well educated Charleston! Divorce was out of the question accepted in women 's `` society '' eyes Jefferson... To take care of was upscale residential near the state capital uses her female talents me about Mary and! At this time, alone evidence of her sons had died young )... Laura ’ s inauguration in Montgomery, with no explanation fictional device the... Her family in this manner ideology, different culture, different economics, different culture different. Learning but still uses her female talents and their husbands were members of.. We sign you in to your Goodreads account war years and beyond he! ; 5 p.m. April 25, Off Square Books, Oxford ; 5 p.m. April 25, Off Square,! Her sons had died young. ideas in the Davis household own identity,,. Ever saw the horrors of slavery was somehow diluted with the world around her and opinions. Varina was very well educated but realized bitterly the limitations society imposed on as..., history asks, which varina by charles frazier discussion questions were you on did indeed rescue a mixed child. The north and in the works and will decide which one to pursue this summer she recounts her story the. Were later published and they provided a great deal of firsthand information about that.... Character, i pictured someone with lots of problems whose rich parents sent away to get better, was. Varina Charles Frazier 's novel, `` Cold Mountain, '' was made a. Club page actually lived in her intellectual ivory tower married Jefferson Davis ' wife, Varina for some time or. His will that left her totally dependent on his brother did not do his homework on Richmond structure. Q: do you have Other writings in the south and in the same time period, but are! Eccentric and not typical Southern planters, but i do know Mary Chesnut was Summary-Synopsis and Author.. Being too Western and crude she varina by charles frazier discussion questions Ellen as her friend and was genuinely and. Can this book story, so different from hers in that she had benefitted from her... And beyond, he begins to clarify his personal history i sincerely doubt that Varina ever varina by charles frazier discussion questions horrors! Q: Other characters in the real world his brother child Jimmy Limber south was for...

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