Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War is the third book by New York Times best-selling author Karen Abbott. Though Abbott has recently changed her publishing name to Abbott Kahler, because Liar Temptress, Soldier, Spy is still printed and published as authored by Karen Abbott, this guide will refer to the author by that name. Abbott often writes about American women’s history, focusing on overlooked stories, accomplishments, and contributions of women. Her novels often focus on women living on the fringes of society. Critics at The Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times call her narrative-driven, historical nonfiction so “engrossing” that it is hard to put down. Published in 2014, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy is no exception. This novel portrays the lives of four women during the Civil War, two on the side of the Union and two on the side of the Confederacy. The novel was The Library Journal’s best book of 2014 and The Christian Science Monitor’s best book of 2014.

This guide refers to the 2015 Harper Collins print edition of Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War.

Content Warning: This guide includes descriptions of wartime violence, sexual assault, murder, gun violence, racism, white supremacy, slavery, misogyny, and torture.