I enjoyed the presentation of history and the characters as they were developed in Varina. The pre and post Civil War south, its politics and people, its industry and commerce were defined from an individual's perspective - the wife of Jefferson Davis. The author also brought the reality of a "southern society life" for a young woman -partly privileged and yet controlled and disenfranchised. I realize that Frazier could not and did not cover all the horrible aspects of slavery and the war, but gave an excellent picture of one (albeit fictional) individual's experience.