“It has been as though the ghost of a tiny, remarkable woman has been whispering in my ear for months, insisting that her story be told.
The novel, “When He Was Gone,” based on the true story of that amazing woman’s life in the 1800s, was truly a privilege to write.”
— Carla Field
Elizabeth Garraux, was 5-feet-tall and weighed less than 100 pounds. She and her husband and their eight children arrived in this country from Switzerland two years after the Civil War ended. They had three more children before relocating to Greenville, South Carolina.
They came without racial bias to a country where they would constantly be confronted with the struggles of emancipation and reconstruction. Elizabeth also found herself living in a country where women had few rights and were generally treated as the property of their husbands. No one in the family spoke English. And yet, over the next two decades — most with her husband completely out of the picture — she became the owner of more than 150 acres and a successful wine grower and vintner. She also opened a store of her own and ran two other successful businesses, all while continuing to raise her 11 children.
Elizabeth’s story is one of survival, overcoming and finding her own path against all odds. Her life story is informative, inspiring, empowering, and filled with timely lessons for all women — and for anyone facing a challenge.
For more posts about the Garrauxs and Greenville, go to the blog page: carlajfield.com/news
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Publishing Update: “When He Was Gone” is now available in hardcover and paperback through Amazon. I will be negotiating with M. Judson in downtown Greenville for a potential book signing. Book-related events will be announced on this website and on Facebook. Thanks for your support!
"When He Was Gone" Amazon link: https://a.co/d/2UwpUn4
