In the Midst of Alarms: The Untold Story of Women and the War of 1812

This is a study of women -- American, Canadian, British and aboriginal -- who experienced the War of 1812. The author distils her years of research in diaries, records, memoirs and correspondence into a colourful examination of the ordeals, tragedies and triumphs of women who endured a conflict wished for by neither of the belligerents. She describes the woman's world of early 19th century North America: courtship and marriage, domestic life, childbirth and employment. Along the way she looks at fashion and clothing, cooking and gardening. She goes on to examine the lives of women whose men were in uniform -- from the wives of senior officers to the camp followers -- and she chronicles the experiences of women caught up in the war, from high society to low life.