"Some thirty-two of Malinda Taylor's own letters to her husband are part of this invaluable correspondence. Her letters offer a rich source on what the war did to Southern yeoman society. She records the problems of running the family farm and caring for their young children often on her own. Malinda gained self-reliance that made her husband uneasy. Despite all their trials, the Taylors remained a loving couple not afraid to express their feelings for each other."--BOOK JACKET.