Feb. 4, 2012 - The Saturday Salon with Arlene Showalter

Arlene Showalter has added to the literature available about the infamous Civil War prison located in Salisbury with the publication of her new novel Butternut Tears.  Showalter will be the guest author at the Literary Bookpost Saturday Salon on Saturday, February 4^th, 1 – 3 pm.  During the Salon, Showalter will hold a meet and greet with attendees, while discussing and signing copies of Butternut Tears.

The Civil War involved great battles, renowned generals, and thousands of steadfast soldiers.  But what of the mothers, sisters, wives and children who remained behind?

In Showalter's novel Butternut Tears, meet Clara Maxwell, who knits socks for the army and feeds enemy prisoners alongside her compassionate aunt; Mrs. Maxwell.  Mrs. Maxwell faces and conquers her own bitterness of war by tending to wounded soldiers and sewing uniforms.  And then there is Jimmy, who transfers the wounded to the local hospitals and becomes a prison guard.  These three tell the story of many actual events of that war, but particularly those affecting Salisbury, North Carolina.

Arlene Showalter developed a passion for history, especially the Civil War, when she visited Gettysburg at the age of 13.  In 2008, she moved from Pittsburgh, PA to Salisbury, and learned a prison had been located within the city limits.  Pondering how local residents would feel about having the enemy confined so close to their homes, she visited the Rowan County Library for information, and the seed for Butternut Tears was planted.