Enemy Women

A Novel

By: Paulette Jiles

Narrated by: Reba Buhr

As lyrical and poignant as Ahab’s Wife and Cold Mountain, here is a wondrous tale set against the tragedy of the American Civil War. . . . “Jiles carries her gifts with deft precision.”—New York Times Book Review

The Colley family are modest farmers in the Missouri Ozarks. Although Southerners, the Colleys try to remain neutral, a fact ignored by the Union militia who confiscate their livestock, burn their farm, and arrest their daughter, Adair, on charges of “enemy collaboration.”

Yet as this innocent young woman soon discovers, fate can have a double edge. While imprisoned, she falls in love with her interrogator, a Union major who helps her escape. Transferred to the front lines, he promises he will survive and marry her. And Adair, now an escaped convict, must begin her own harrowing journey through the wilderness and enemy territory to find the family she left behind.

In unsentimental yet elegant prose, Paulette Jiles reveals the universal horrors of war and its irreparable damage, and introduces a wonderful new character in a memorable, touching story.

Fascinating history

This book is much more than I expected. It is obviously well researched and cited. It actually fills in blanks in my genealogy that I could never have hoped to find. Great reading b

Beautiful Prose

This story offers accurate information about the Civil War in Missouri. I used to live in Cape Girardeau and recognize all the place names in the story.
The characters were well drawn and nuanced as were the horses which featured largely in the tale.
The plot was nicely paced and kept my interest.

Enemy Women

Dislike all the cuss words love the story and the interesting war facts that were given

Raw and Riveting

Blurred lines between fact and fiction coupled with harsh reality and genius imagery - Paulette Jiles takes the heart, blood, and guts of the Civil War to another level. What an enviable gift she shares with us - Thanks, PJ!!

Story, history, writing and reader

I loved it . Jules should win a Pulitzer for this work. Absolutely stunning writing and historical work. Brilliant.