The Civil War Diary of Clara Solomon: Growing Up in New Orleans, 1861-1862.

This volume records the daily activities and private thoughts of a lively, articulate young Jewish woman during a short but eventful period of the Civil War, from 15 June 1861 to 11 July 1862. Like many other adolescent girls in the past, Clara Solomon personified her diary as a friend, Philomen, whom she addressed in fluent and vivid language, for example, "Monday morning was ushered in by delicious showers, that had the effect of washing the face of nature" (p. 395). With the exception of a three-month hiatus during which she apparently could not get a suitable book to write in, consecutive and often detailed entries provide intriguing data about three major areas of historical interest: civilian life in general, and women's presence specifically, in a major southern city during the Civil War; …