Love Against All Odds
A romance tested by distance, war, and uncertainty.
Rich Historical Details
Real letters inspire a deeply human Civil War love story.
Women’s Resilience
A governess tackling duty, identity, and survival in a war-torn South.
Forgotten Voices Remembered
Stories of enslaved people, servants, and women often left out of history.
GRAB YOUR BOOK
Read the Love Story That Survived
the Civil War
Read the powerful love story of Charlotte and Joseph, torn apart by the Civil War but united by heartfelt letters. Based on real family correspondence, The Virginia Governess gives voice to a romance forged in hardship, faith, and enduring devotion.
ABOUT LIZ CARSON KEITH
A Voice for Love, Loss, & Resilience in
History’s Shadows
Liz Carson Keith is a storyteller who lives to keep history alive through the voices that are often left out of the usual textbooks. Inspired by family letters discovered generations later, she brings facts and fiction to illustrate vividly the lives led by people during the Civil War South. The Virginia Governess, her first novel, came from a wish to honor strong women, soldiers, and families who fought against difficult times with remarkable courage and determination.
- Rooted in Real History
- A Voice for Women
- Brings Emotional Authenticity
- Captures Love, Resilience, and Hope
READERS’ REVIEWS
See Why They Loved Reading It
I’ve read a lot of Civil War books, but this one’s different. Most of them focus on the battles, the generals, and the politics. But this? This is about the people, the governess teaching Latin by candlelight, the enslaved woman with wisdom no book could teach, the soldier writing love letters between skirmishes. This book stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
Fiona K.
CUSTOMER
As a descendant of enslaved people, I appreciated the honesty. I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first. So many Southern stories romanticize the past. But Liz Carson Keith doesn’t do that. She shows the truth, the pain, the injustice, but she also gives voice to people like Dock and Polly, not as side characters, but as human beings with stories worth telling.
Oliver S.
CUSTOMER
I felt like I was living right beside Lottie, hearing the cannons in Virginia and holding my breath for Joseph’s letters. This book is a great love story, and its history made it heartbreakingly human.
Kiara Horton
CUSTOMER
The Virginia Governess made me cry, smile, and think deeply about the strength of women in wartime. Lottie is a character I’ll carry with me for a long time.
Jason Radcliffe
CUSTOMER
This story touched my heart. It’s romantic, yes, but it’s also about resilience and hope. It left me with a new respect for the people who lived through the Civil War.
