About this time last year I received a wonderful Christmas present when I learned that Dr. David Aiken, English professor at the College of Charleston and the Citadel, would be recommending “Marching Through Culpeper” to his upcoming classes. I contacted Dr. Aiken and he invited me to speak to one of his classes in January while we were at Hilton Head. Therefore I had the opportunity to share my story with his students. I also learned that “Gone with the Wind” would be required reading.

I am always thrilled to hear from my readers, especially when they report learning so much from the book. I’ve long felt it had a niche in education, whether read by homeschoolers, or high school or college students. I am elated with the review below posted by one of Dr. Aiken’s students.

 It rivaled Gone with the Wind and WON!, May 23, 2008
By  S. Clendening “Laura Belle”  (Dallas, TX) – See all my reviews
Virginia Morton came to visit my college this semester to talk about Marching Through Culpeper and sold her book to me after a short introduction of the plot. Although we only had time to read Gone with the Wind this semester, I could not even wait a day after returning from college to start her book. I read the book in 2 days and could not believe how eloquently Virginia Morton had combined mostly nonfiction with fiction; I was captivated by the storyline and the characters from beginning to end. I have recommended this book to my whole family and wish that everyone would give this book a chance. I have a newfound interest in the Civil War and feel as though Virginia Morton taught me more Civil War history than any teacher ever has. PLEASE MAKE A MOVIE OUT OF MARCHING THROUGH CULPEPER!

While on a Charleston visit, I had the pleasure of getting to know Dr. Aiken. He is a scholar of South Carolina literature and lectures throughout the region. He gave me a copy of his outstanding, illuminating book, “Fire in the Cradle, Charleston’s Literary Heritage.” Through his exhaustive research, he vividly brings to life twenty-three famous writers who have called Charleston home.

The fly leaf says, “No creation of the city expresses the soul of Charleston better than its literature; nothing is more revealing or grander in scope or more fiery in nature…Artistically and historically, Charleston literature is the greatness of the city, and the cradle in which Southern literature found its voice.”

Dr. Aiken’s book gave me a personal introduction to William Gilmore Simms, one of American’s most famous 19th century authors who published over 80 books and achieved international recognition. Dr. Aiken was a founder of the Simms Society and has republished two of Simms’ books. For this Christmas season, I highly recommend “The Golden Christmas,” an entertaining love story of the 1850s that depicts Low Country Christmas customs. And if you want a truthful account of the burning of Columbia, read Simms’ brutally honest firsthand account, “A City Laid Waste.”

I wish all of you joy and peace as you celebrate the birth of our Savior with your loved ones. And may you also find time to curl up with a good book.

PRAYER POWER:

Dear Heavenly Father, we rejoice at your infinite love and the wonder of your greatest gift, your Son. Fill each one reading this with His peace and love. I thank you for all the wonderful new people You’ve brought into my life this past year. Each one is a treasure and a gift. May we all gather around the manger with a sense of awe and invite that babe to be the Lord of our lives.

In the name of Immanuel, Amen