Super Short Summary

In Mothers of Invention, Drew Gilpin Faust explores how elite white women in the slaveholding South during the Civil War faced internal conflicts and societal upheaval that challenged their traditional roles. Through examining letters, diaries, and other writings of Confederate women, Faust reveals their evolving perspectives on marriage, parenting, financial responsibilities, and manual labor, as well as their struggles with the collapse of their societal norms and the war's impact on their lives. The book discusses sensitive topics related to slavery, violence, and the wartime experiences of women.