In 1861, at the start of the Civil War, poet Julia Ward Howe set pen to paper to write new lyrics to a song that would become synonymous with patriotism. She became best known for the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," but her life and work as an abolitionist and social reformer extended beyond poetry.
Guests:
- Elaine Showalter, Emeritus Professor of English, Princeton University and Author, The Civil Wars of Julia Ward Howe