Caroline Gilman

Recollections of a Southern Matron Caroline Gilman

There have been many editions of this popular 1838 work, written by a Northern woman who lived for many years in Charleston, S. C. Technically, it is a fiction book because of her apocryphal story-line. She relies heavily, however, upon her real-life experiences in the American South. Written in first person narration, with the concentration on domestic life on a Southern plantation, Gilman highlights the serenity of the slaves, who were always called "servants." But this is not her main theme. She does not get into heated politics of abolition, the rights of man, etc., but probes more into the day-to-day interpersonal relations between master and servant and their inter-dependence upon one another. The book is a cultural report of what is, not of what ought to be. She neither condemns nor lauds Southern domestic life, but presents a fictionalized story line based on her experiences. Her work has long been valued for the spirit and fidelity with which she has painted rural and home life. The book shows habits of keen observation and an artist-like power of grouping and character development. A variety of human emotions are stirred, including laughter and tears as such events as births, weddings, and funerals are covered. Her writing has stood the test of time, and many people have enjoyed her books and poetry.