Lincolns dressmaker, by jennifer chiaverini for a book discussion group. Lincolns dressmaker wrote a memoir moonbridgebooks. The story of elizabeth keckley, a former slave who bought her freedom with the earnings from her seamstress skills, is an interesting one. Elizabeth lizzy keckley, a freed slave in washington, d. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mrs. It seems wellresearched, but much of it draws from keckleys own memoir. Lincolns dressmaker reveals mary todd lincolns very public social and political contest with kate chase sprague in this astute and lively novel of the politics of stateset against the backdrop of civil war era washington. Her decision leads to her new position as mary todd lincolns modiste. Lincolns dressmaker, jennifer chiaverini illuminated one of the first ladys most private relationships. Keckley was a former slave who had been mary todd lincolns dressmaker and friend during the white house years, and in the aftermath of president lincolns assassination. Lincoln, often maligned, grew up in a family of wealth and privilege. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Lincolns dressmaker illuminates the extraordinary relationship the two women shared, beginning in the hallowed halls of the white house during the trials of the civil war and enduring almost, but not quite, to the end of mrs. She lives with her husband and two sons in madison, wisconsin.
In the springfield, illinois, museum, elizabeth is a figure behind mary, who is in a dress described in the book. Lincolns negative example that the only way to redeem oneself from scandal was to live an exemplary life every day thereafter p. She lost her only son in the war and was the victim of a scandal that damaged her reputation and left her in poverty. Elizabeth keckley, mary lincolns dressmaker and friend. The long of it i found the most impressive character in the book to be elizabeth keckley mrs. Lincolns dressmaker represents a limited national history of america during the lincoln era and a personal story of keckleys life and dreams. The perspective is thirdperson and emphasizes the historical and real over image and gossip.
Lincolns dressmaker any reader interested in president lincoln, civil war history, or historical fiction should love this book. Our club had a great discussion on this book regarding the two main characters as they were portrayed in this book compared with other accounts about mary todd lincoln. By writing the book, it was her intention to improve lincolns reputation and to explain what led to lincolns old clothes scandal of 1867. Elizabeth was born into slavery, raped by her white master, and betrayed by her husband. Lincoln and elizabeth both suffer terrible tragedies.
An example of what jennifer chiaverini does so well in her enlightening new historical novel, mrs. Lincolns dressmaker by jennifer chiaverini penguin. Lincolns dressmaker, novelist jennifer chiaverini presents a stunning account of the friendship that blossomed between mary todd lincoln and her seamstress, elizabeth lizzie keckley, a former slave who gained her professional reputation in washington, d. Lincolns dressmaker, fates and traitors, enchantress of numbers, and other acclaimed works of historical fiction, as well as the beloved elm creek quilts series. Her name was elizabeth keckley, and she was a slave who had scrimped to buy freedom for herself and her son from her half sister and husband keckley was daughter of a white slave owner and a slave woman. In 1868, a controversial tellall called behind the scenes introduced. Lincolns dressmaker, novelist jennifer chiaverini presents a stunning account of the friendship that blossomed between mary todd lincoln and her seamstress, elizabeth lizzie keckley, a more.
Her life gets a fictional treatment by this author of the popular elm creek quilts series. The unlikely friendship of elizabeth keckley and mary todd lincoln 9781426303777 by lynda jones. The book exposed marys marriage and her erratic behavior, along with confidential opinions of many in high society. Lincolns dressmaker, elizabeth observed washingtons elite and the character and philosophy of the president. Lincolns dressmaker is a wonderful noveljennifer chiaverini has researched her history well, and writes elegantly and formally. Lincolns dressmaker audiobook, by jennifer chiaverini. New york times bestselling author jennifer chiaverinis compelling historical novel unveils the private lives of abraham and mary lincoln through the perspective of the first ladys most trusted confidante and friend, her dressmaker, elizabeth keckley.
Elizabeth keckley, a former slave, was mary lincolns dressmaker and became her friend while employed within the lincoln white house. Lincolns dressmaker historyand its colorful characterscome alive. Lincolns dressmaker by gregorylibrary see profile 021914. But despite the controversy surrounding the book, keckleys accounts of. Few events can stir up a scandal more than an autobiography of a first ladys confidante.
She is portrayed as a very selfreliant and formidable woman blessed with creative talents as well as entrepreneurial and business skills. Using period photographs and illustrations to expand the interest level, this account provides brief, strongly contrasting biographies of mary todd lincoln and elizabeth keckley. Beautiful, intelligent, regal, and entrancing, young kate chase sprague stepped into the. Lincolns dressmaker takes readers through the entirety of the civil war with the lincoln family filling the background and keckleys story in the foreground. Taking readers through times of war and peace as seen through the eyes of an extraordinary woman, the author brings civil war washington to vivid life through her meticulously researched authentic detail. Lincolns days new york times bestselling author jennifer chiaverinis compelling historical novel unveils the private lives of abraham and mary lincoln through. Lincolns dressmaker by jennifer chiaverini reading. Lincolns dressmaker, occurs late in the book, when a newly widowed mary todd lincoln shares a letter of condolence from queen victoria with her dressmaker, a.
Jennifer chiaverini is the new york times bestselling author of mrs. Lincolns dressmaker helps to illuminate the path on which her long and remarkable life led her. Handsome duotone illustrations include daguerreotypes, photos, paintings, and illustrations of the lincolns, mrs. The best parts of chiaverinis book were the insights into president lincolns private life with his family. The books elegant design emphasizes period fashion and the art of dressmaking. New york times bestselling author jennifer chiaverini has a gift for transporting listeners into the past for riveting explorations of how seemingly ordinary women overcome extraordinary circumstances. Lincolns dressmaker is a barely fictionalized novel of the life of elizabeth keckley in relation to mary todd lincoln. A few weeks ago i listened to jennifer chiaverini talk about mrs. The book was chosen from a list of suggestions by schs members. Lincolns dressmaker is an historical fiction well worth reading. Louis postdispatch all the characters are brilliantly written, and readers will enjoy getting to know them. Lincolns dressmaker audiobook by jennifer chiaverini. Lincolns dressmaker based on the life of mary todd lincolns seamstress and confidante elizabeth keckley, who was a former slave is due out on jan.
Lincolns dressmaker tells the remarkable story of a forgotten figure whose influence ran deep and offers a revealing insight into an extraordinary relationship at the very heart of abraham lincolns presidency. She arrived at adulthood with few coping skills to deal with the tragedies she facedthe loss of three of her beloved children in their youth and. Lincolns dressmaker jennifer chiaverine, 20 penguin group usa 384 pp. In this departure from her beloved elm creek quilts series, chiaverini weaves a historical. Lincolns dressmaker an absorbing standalone historical novel. And, while ostensibly she narrates the novel, her personality and experience are almost nonexistent. The story of elizabeth keckley, formerslaveturnedmrs. Before the outbreak of the civil war, elizabeth is dressmaker to the wives of many senators and representatives of southern states, and both these women and their husbands value her work and treat her respectfully and often affectionately. A novel by jennifer chiaverini, about the friendship between mary todd lincoln and elizabeth hobbs keckley, a former slave who won her freedom by the skill of her needle. Chiaverini brings to life longforgotten snapshots of americas. Lincolns rival, she tells of the famous first ladys very public social and political contest with kate chase sprague, memorialized as one of the most remarkable women ever known to washington society providence journal. The editor, james redpath, included letters from mary lincoln to keckley in the book, and the seamstress was strongly criticized for violating lincolns privacy.
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