Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839 (Cambridge Library Collection -... Book

English actress Fanny Kemble, who married Philadelphian Pierce Butler in 1834, spent the winter and spring of 1838-39 with her husband and their two young daughters on plantations her husband inherited in Georgia. Already philosophically opposed to slavery, Fanny wrote a journal about her observations and experiences in the form of letters to a friend, which were never sent. This was published during the Civil War, more than 10 years after she and Pierce divorced and she returned to England.

Fanny writes with compassion and intelligence about her relationships with slaves and her usually futile efforts to improve their plight. There are vivid descriptions of flora, fauna, people, and architecture, providing a solid feel for the place and time, although it was slow going due to the language of the era and the lack of paragraph breaks. Because so many slaves experienced the same horrible situations the book is a little repetitive, and I’ve noticed that even the most socially enlightened writers of this period tend to express a little prejudice. Still, she was a remarkable and courageous woman with a strong voice, and her writings provide an important record.