John F. Stegeman

The wife of Revolutionary General Nathaneal Greene - Catharine Littlefield Greene or Caty - seems to have been a more benign version of the fictional Scarlett O'Hara - at times immature, at times divisive, but also beautiful, flirtatious, witty, smart, and practical. Mostly through her letters from Nathaneal (his survived but hers did not) and other letters from and about her in various personal collections, we learn a great deal about life on the Revolutionary warfront, about the Washingtons, the Knoxes, the Marquis de Lafayette, General Anthony Wayne, as well as, of course, General Greene himself. We also learn how a woman alone and bankrupt, after the General's death at age forty-four in 1786, managed in Colonial America. In Caty's case, she had several love affairs, haggled with Congress over posthumous payment to Nathaneal, and became a business partner with Eli Whitney, enabling us to get a glimpse the early cotton industry as well. She was apparently a captivating woman whose life was full of fascinating friends, enemies, and lovers. If you have an interest in the Revolutionary War and/or colonial America, this book is well worth the short time it will take to read. (JAF)… (mais)