Richard N. Côté,
(843) 881-6080
fax (843) 881-1899
Contact Dick Côté
|
Love, War, and Family Ties
in Nineteenth-century Charleston
By Richard N. Côté
Hardcover ISBN: 1-929175-19-1
Softcover ISBN 1-929175-04-3
|
Born to affluence and opportunity in the South's Golden Age,
Charleston's Mary Motte Alston Pringle (1803-1884) represented the epitome
of Southern white womanhood. Mary's World illuminates in lavish detail
the world and psyche of this wealthy, well-educated, well-intentioned
woman and her family in the antebellum South. This intimate biography
was drawn directly from over 2,500 pages of Mary's own letters and journals.
FOR DISCUSSION
What statement does the book make about the status of women in Southern
Victorian society? (see p. 177). In particular, what rights were women
given concerning property ownership? In what ways did the education of
women differ from those of men? How did Mary Pringle gain her superior
education?
Mary's husband owned 337 slaves. One of the main internal conflicts Mary
faces is this: as a Christian she cannot sanction slavery, yet as a South
Carolina planter's wife she cannot oppose it. In what ways does Mary rationalize
slavery (see p. 181). Even though Mary was opposed to slavery on moral
grounds, do you think she should have / could have done more to end it?
In reading Mary's World, what did you learn about the life of slaves?
In what ways did the life of the house servants differ from that of the
field hands? (see p. 187.) Do you believe it was possible for there to
be a beneficent slave owners? Why or why not?
Do you believe Mary's life was easy or pampered? Do you believe she would
trade her position in upper-class Southern Victorian society for life
in modern-day middle-class society? What luxuries are afforded by modern
civilization that were not available in Southern Victorian times? Would
you trade places with Mary?
What parallels can you see between Mary's life and that of modern society?
Do you believe that racism exists to the same degree today as it did during
Mary's times?
Mary, her husband, and children were all born to privilege, yet each of
her children was hard-working and independent as an adult. How do you
believe Mary instilled this work ethic in her children? Do you personally
know of any affluent families who were successful in raising hard-working,
self-sufficient children?
Motte's wartime oversight (see p. 208) resulted in the loss of 25 lives
and a ship. The author states, "In the civilian world, small mistakes
rarely result in much harm, but in wartime they can lead to catastrophe."
In what ways does wartime intensify mistakes?
Julius was a legitimate hero, both militarily (he was a decorated naval
officer) and financially (he helped save the family from financial ruin
during the Reconstruction era). Yet after the war his entire family turned
on him, except for his mother and father. Do you believe Julius did the
right thing by "collaborating with the enemy" after the fall
of New Orleans? Were his actions justified by the fact that he was the
only one capable of financially supporting his family after the war? (see
p. 204). Or do you believe he "made a pact with the Devil?"
Prior to the war, the Pringles sent their male children to be educated
in the North. The family spent summers in resorts like Newport, and vacationed
in New York and Massachusetts. Was Mary's post-war hatred of the North
justified?
How did the occupying Union Army troops treat Southerners (black and white)
after the war? Were they "noble victors," or opportunistic despots?
In 1866 William Bull Pringle called upon the Union army to enforce labor
contracts, and the Freedmen torched his house at Richfield Plantation.
Were they justified?
What statement does the book make about the economic term "insatiable
desires" -- the fact that no matter how much money or how many possessions
people have, they will always want more. Do you believe that the "law
of insatiable desires" is pure greed, or merely a part of the human
condition?
How did the Pringles cope with the loss of their money and slaves? How
did the Pringles' slaves cope with their new freedom? How did the relations
between the Pringles and their former slaves change after the end of the
Civil War?
In what ways does Mary resolve -- or fail to resolve -- her post-war bittterness?
(see p. 283.) Did the loss of her three sons, her way of life, and the
Confederate cause affect her Christian faith?
Read about Mary's amazing sister-in-law (Vice President Aaron Burr's daughter)
in Richard N. Côté's new biography, Theodosia
Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy.
SPECIAL OFFERS FOR READING GROUPS
Reader's groups who order four or more copies direct from the publisher
receive 20% discount, books signed by the author, and free Media Mail
shipping. Call (843) 881-6080 or email readinggroupdiscounts@corinthianbooks.com
for details.
The Côté Literary Group is a professional member of the Small Press Association
of North America
and the Publishers Marketing Association
|
