Book Blurb:
1860-Michigan Territory- Millicent is enjoying life on the farm with her husband and children, but when Abraham Lincoln is elected President, her world is shaken in ways she never imagined.
When her husband enlists to fight for the Union it begins a cascade of events that plunge her family and life into turmoil. As the challenges become harder and harder to manage, Millie learns that she is stronger than she thought she could be, and more resilient than she ever thought she would need to be.
This story is loosely based on the life of my great-great-great grandfather and his family whose struggles I have come to understand through years of my genealogy work. Men who fought and died in war should be recognized and celebrated for their sacrifice, but we often forget the trials of the women left behind. Ordinary women whose accomplishments were anything but ordinary. This story amplifies those voices and tells their story for all to hear.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/odGxAnU
Editorial Review:
Her Last Full Measure is a tragic and touching story set in 1859 during the time of the American civil war. While this novel promises to tug at the heartstrings and bring tears to the eyes more than once, it is also a tale of enduring strength, courage, and fortitude under extremely challenging circumstances.
Her Last Full Measure is a work of historical fiction which follows the protagonist, Millicent, as she navigates through these troublesome times. Millicent is married to Matthew Wagner and has five children with him, Mariah, Rebecca, Kenneth, Cordelia, and Charles. Their lives are turned upside down when Matthew follows his values and ideals and enlists in the army to support the abolitionist movement.
This decision leads to a string of events occurring whereby Millicent is truly tested to her core as she and her children face many challenges. Millicent’s endurance throughout all these trials and tribulations is nothing short of heroic. This sentiment is captured beautifully when Leo, the husband of one of Millicent’s friends, states, “You know Millie, your husband is not the only one who has been heroic these many months. You have been as well. You have faced many difficulties during his absence... Charlotte has told me about all that fate has dealt you. Dealing with each of these things was your own act of valor and courage. It is easy for one to lie down and simply give up when life overwhelms you, but you did not do that. You fought back, for yourself and your children and you, my dear, are to be commended.” This statement could not be truer. Moreover, it does justice to the suffering and hardship that many women went through during this time, even though they were not on the battlefields themselves. They still had to work, care for families, earn money, run businesses all during a time when this was not the primary role of women. They were forced to adapt to an entirely foreign lifestyle with little preparation or assistance.
The true hardship of the time is reflected in Millicent’s reflections after Leo makes this statement. She thinks to herself, “The idea that I needed to be commended was a foreign one. I have heard of a few women, unable to manage without their husbands, who abandoned their children to orphanages and left to start a new life in a new place. That is the kind of person I could never be, and would never want to be, but I can understand it too. The feeling of being overwhelmed, of not having the strength to go on, the pain of facing the things you would rather not face.” This was an immensely painful time and impossible decisions had to be made daily by those trying to survive through this period.
Millicent’s attitude towards life is truly commendable and her strong spirit is nothing short of inspirational. Readers are not only taken on an historical journey from the beginning of the civil was to its completion but are also brought along on a personal development journey whereby they get to witness Millicent’s growth, grit, and determination to do her very best for her family despite the dire events unfolding around them.
The author brilliantly interweaves themes of resilience, finding meaning in suffering, the importance of inner strength and strong friendships within the pages of this book. The novel highlights what truly matters in life which includes family, forming reliable relationships, sticking by one’s values in life and freedom. Moreover, the author highlights the inevitable truth which is that there are no true winners during times of war. The cost of life is always too high. This understanding is felt when Millicent reflects on the country becoming united again, “We will be one country again, at least on paper. I fear the wounds from this division, all the pain and suffering from it, will not be forgotten for a very long time. It will take generations before men and women stop talking at their kitchen tables about the war and the price they paid, regardless of whether they were on the winning or losing side.” As Millicent states, whether on the winning or losing side, the human suffering is ultimately the same. This ability to see both sides of the conflict and to understand all people without judgement is a truly noble quality Millicent embodies.
The writing style of the Her Last Full Measure was very poetic at times. The lyrical turns of phrase draw the reader into Millicent’s world. The army correspondence included was also a nice touch. These included letters between Millicent and Matthew as well as other army officials when Matthew was no longer able to write to her. These letters ramped up the suspense factor as readers truly felt the twang of fear intermingled with hope as they read through the letter with Millicent, desperately longing for Matthew’s safe return.
There were a few passages throughout the book which involved more telling the reader what was happening as opposed to showing. During these passages, there was a slackening in tension and suspense, and they felt a little unnecessary with regards to driving the plot forward or setting the scene. However, apart from a few scenes here and there, the story unfolded beautifully, was well paced, and truly had readers emotionally entangled from the very first page.
The author's ability to write about not only the hardships that the men went through during the war, but also including the women’s point of view is quite memorable. These remarkable women in history underwent their own suffering and heartache, which deserves to be acknowledged and honored. This was a wonderful and heartrending read.
*****
“Her Last Full Measure” by Gail Combs Oglesby receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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