ENEMY WOMEN

In 1864, after her father is arrested by Union militia troops, 18-year-old Adair Colley is forced to trek North to safety with her two younger sisters. While on the road, she is falsely accused of being a collaborator and sent to prison. Poet and memoirist Paulette Jiles crafts a harrowing epic that spotlights the disastrous effects of war upon the innocent. Chapters begin with excerpts from letters and Civil War documents, offering a credible, unsentimental look into an area we know little about--the wartime treatment of women. Karen White's reading is intelligent and precise. She does little or no character interpretation, however, leaving the narration lackluster when it could be exciting, dispassionate when it should be engaging. Nevertheless, exceptional writing and absorbing subject matter make for fascinating listening. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 03]