The Civil War stories of one of America's most beloved writers are gathered in this single volume. The book includes Hospital Sketches, Alcott's fictionalized account of her service as a nurse. Nine short stories weave dramatic tales about the personal effects of the war. For example, in Love and Loyalty, a young woman learns a lesson about compassion in the aftermath of the battle of Gettysburg, while The Brothers tells a dramatic story of a family conflict that ends with the assault of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment on Fort Wagner. The book includes excerpts from her Civil War-era journals, giving the reader a glimpse into how real life inspired fiction. Jan Turnquist, executive director of the Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and Alcott interpreter, provides an insightful introduction that emphasizes the impact of the Civil War on Alcott's writing. Book jacket.