The American Civil War was in full swing by 1863; and, with her niece Maria efficiently arranging every aspect of her life, Harriet Martineau devoted her energy to writing, needlework and a seemingly inexhaustible capacity for letter-writing. The correspondence in this final volume of Martineau’s collected letters exhibits an undiminished intellectual engagement with domestic, national and international events, despite her chronic ill-health. Personally, her intense interest in American affairs reflects a passion for the abolitionist cause of more than thirty years’ duration; professionally, her commentary on the war demonstrates both a formidable depth of knowledge about contemporary events and a facility for shrewd, insightful political analysis. Events in America alternately sent her into despair – resulting in ‘sinking fits’ – or to her writing table, where her knowledge, passion and political comprehension found expression in writing for periodicals. Only one factor engaged Martineau’s heart and mind more than the American Civil War, and that was Maria Martineau.
