I first stumbled across Jennifer Chiaverini's books years ago when I was a manager at Barnes and Noble. Her first book series are quilting inspired, "Elm Creek Quilts" and are excellent mind you. She then morphed into historical fiction, and I applaud her dedication to researching so accurately.
I do not know if many of you know the history of Mary Todd Lincoln. Granted, she was married to an incredible man, but she herself is not a huge favorite of mine. Whenever I read about her I'm drawn into the ideology that she was really a selfish and spoiled woman. Sincerely, this is merely my opinion, but Ms. Chiaverini must have found the information, as many others have, with regard to Mrs. Lincoln. And while she was married to a great man, I do not find her to be a great woman ... except with her astute friendship with Elizabeth Keckley. Mrs. Lincoln, a weak character is balanced quite beautiful with a strong character in Elizabeth Keckley. So the question is, will that strength become weakened by the all mighty presence of Mrs. Lincoln? I'll let you be the judge when you read the book.
Elizabeth, a mulatto slave woman who purchased the freedom for herself and her son prior to the Civil War. She owned her own business and was renowned for her skills as a Modiste, and sought out by many of the political leaders wives. Mary Todd Lincoln was wise to hire Elizabeth, and the devotion the two women had to one another in their friendship is truly touching and extraordinary.
To read this book is to see the strength in a woman of color during a time when you would not expect to see her as the independent, intelligent woman she was. And to see the wife of a great President who I wish would have just stayed home and not followed her husband to Washington, but of course that wasn't done, and Washington City had to bare with her, I'm afraid.
A very good book! I urge you to read it.
