Miss Ravenel's Conversion from Secession to Loyalty (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Civil War NovelBy John William De Forest
Length20h 3m
About this audiobook
John William De Forest's Miss Ravenel's Conversion from Secession to Loyalty (1867) is a pioneering American Civil War novel, remarkable for its attempt to render the conflict with psychological realism rather than romance or propaganda. Through Lillie Ravenel's gradual political and moral transformation, the book examines loyalty, sectional identity, marriage, ambition, and the brutal disillusionments of war. Its style combines social comedy, battlefield reportage, and moral analysis, anticipating later realist fiction and standing apart from the sentimental conventions of much postwar literature. De Forest was himself a Union veteran, having served in the Twelfth Connecticut Volunteers and witnessed the war's campaigns at close range. His military experience lends the novel its unusual authority: battles are confused, exhausting, and morally compromising rather than heroic tableaux. A Yale-educated writer and traveler, De Forest brought to fiction both cosmopolitan observation and an insistence that American literature confront national realities directly. This novel is recommended to readers interested in Civil War literature, American realism, and the cultural reconstruction of the United States after 1865. It offers not only a compelling narrative of private feeling under public crisis, but also an early and sophisticated meditation on how war reshapes belief, character, and national belonging.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreAction and Adventure, Historical Fiction
Length20 hrs 3 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateFeb 4, 2021
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
24CHAPTER XIX. THE REORGANIZATION OF SOUTHERN LABOR IS CONTINUED WITH VIGOR.
2Introduction
25CHAPTER XX. CAPTAIN COLBURNE MARCHES AND FIGHTS WITH CREDIT.
3Synopsis
26CHAPTER XXI. CAPTAIN COLBURNE HAS OCCASION TO SEE LIFE IN A HOSPITAL.
4Historical Context
27CHAPTER XXII. CAPTAIN COLBURNE REINFORCES THE RAVENELS IN TIME TO AID THEM IN RUNNING AWAY.
5Miss Ravenel's Conversion from Secession to Loyalty
28CHAPTER XXIII. CAPTAIN COLBURNE COVERS THE RETREAT OF THE SOUTHERN LABOR ORGANIZATION.
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6CHAPTER I. MR. EDWARD COLBURNE BECOMES ACQUAINTED WITH MISS LILLIE RAVENEL.
29CHAPTER XXIV. A DESPERATE ATTACK AND A SUCCESSFUL DEFENCE.
7CHAPTER II. MISS RAVENEL BECOMES ACQUAINTED WITH LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CARTER.
30CHAPTER XXV. DOMESTIC HAPPINESS, IN SPITE OF ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
8CHAPTER III. MR. COLBURNE TAKES A SEGAR WITH LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CARTER.
31CHAPTER XXVI. CAPTAIN COLBURNE DESCRIBES CAMP AND FIELD LIFE.
9CHAPTER IV. THE DRAMATIC PERSONAGES GO ON A PIC-NIC, AND STUDY THE WAYS OF NEW BOSTON.
32CHAPTER XXVII. COLONEL CARTER MAKES AN ASTRONOMICAL EXPEDITION WITH A DANGEROUS FELLOW TRAVELLER.
10CHAPTER V. THE DRAMATIC PERSONAGES GET NEWS FROM BULL RUN.
33CHAPTER XXVIII. THE COLONEL CONTINUES TO BE LED INTO TEMPTATION.
11CHAPTER VI. MR. COLBURNE SEES HIS WAY CLEAR TO BE A SOLDIER.
34CHAPTER XXIX. LILLIE REACHES THE APOTHEOSIS OF WOMANHOOD.
12CHAPTER VII. CAPTAIN COLBURNE RAISES A COMPANY, AND COLONEL CARTER A REGIMENT.
35CHAPTER XXX. COLONEL CARTER COMMITS HIS FIRST UNGENTLEMANLY ACTION.
13CHAPTER VIII. THE BRAVE BID GOOD-BYE TO THE FAIR.
36CHAPTER XXXI. A TORTURE WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPARED.
14CHAPTER IX. FROM NEW BOSTON TO NEW ORLEANS, VIA FORT JACKSON.
37CHAPTER XXXII. A MOST LOGICAL CONCLUSION.
15CHAPTER X. THE RAVENELS FIND CAPTAIN COLBURNE IN GOOD QUARTERS.
38CHAPTER XXXIII. LILLIE DEVOTES HERSELF ENTIRELY TO THE RISING GENERATION.
16CHAPTER XI. NEW ORLEANS LIFE AND NEW ORLEANS LADIES.
39CHAPTER XXXIV. LILLIE'S ATTENTION IS RECALLED TO THE RISING GENERATION.
17CHAPTER XII. COLONEL CARTER BEFRIENDS THE RAVENELS.
40CHAPTER XXXV. CAPTAIN COLBURNE AS MR. COLBURNE.
18CHAPTER XIII. THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE BEGINS TO RUN ROUGH.
41CHAPTER XXXVI. A BRACE OF OFFERS.
19CHAPTER XIV. LILLIE CHOOSES FOR HERSELF.
42CHAPTER XXXVII. A MARRIAGE.
20CHAPTER XV. LILLIE BIDS GOOD-BYE TO THE LOVER WHOM SHE HAS CHOSEN, AND TO THE LOVER WHOM SHE WOULD NOT CHOOSE.
43Analysis
21CHAPTER XVI. COLONEL CARTER GAINS ONE VICTORY, AND MISS RAVENEL ANOTHER.
44Reflection
22CHAPTER XVII. COLONEL CARTER IS ENTIRELY VICTORIOUS BEFORE HE BEGINS HIS CAMPAIGN.
45Memorable Quotes
23CHAPTER XVIII. DOCTOR RAVENEL COMMENCES THE ORGANIZATION OF SOUTHERN LABOR.
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