Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard – 381 pages
Book Blurb:
When Mary Todd meets Abraham Lincoln in Springfield in the winter of 1840, he is on no one’s shortlist to be president. Rough and reticent, he’s a country lawyer lacking money and manners, living above a dry goods shop, but with a gift for oratory. Mary, a quick, self-possessed debutante with a tireless interest in debates and elections, at first finds him an enigma. “I can only hope,” she tells his roommate, the handsome, charming Joshua Speed, “that his waters being so very still, they also run deep.”
It’s not long, though, before she sees the Lincoln that Speed knows: a man who, despite his awkwardness, is amiable and profound, with a gentle wit to match his genius and a respect for her keen political mind. But as her relationship with Lincoln deepens, she must confront his inseparable friendship with Speed, who has taught his roommate how to dance, dress, and navigate the polite society of Springfield.
My Review: 4 stars
Courting Mr. Lincoln was a welcome relief. Given today’s political climate and upcoming election, it was nice to take a break from 21st century politics and transport back into the 19th century. This novel broke down the question to “what makes a president?”, or rather – “who makes a president?” while focusing who they were as a person, rather than solely as a politician.
I thought this was a beautifully crafted book, with both narrators being equally thoughtful and memorable. The story was told from the point of views of from Mary Todd, Lincoln’s future wife, and Joshua Speed, Lincoln’s closest friend, both real people who were instrumental in the “making” of him as president. Through smart dialogue between Lincoln and both of these key players in his life, the reader was able to capture his intelligence and perceptiveness, while never forgetting the fact that he was an unpolished, socially awkward, country lawyer who was not originally the presidential man we tend to think of today.
It was interesting to read about how on-again, off-again Lincoln and Todd’s relationship was. In the book Mary, Mrs. A. Lincoln, I learned a lot about Mary Todd and I was happy to see her again through a different lens. Courting Mr. Lincoln shed light on a very different version of her, one in which she was well-liked and respected in society circles, considered pretty and intelligent. Although she was opinionated and had a large understanding of politics, which many women of the time did not, this drew Lincoln towards her, but was possibly the root of why some didn’t take to her.
It was a delight to learn more about Joshua Speed, Lincoln’s closest friend and confidant, as well as roommate. Like many, I have heard of rumors swirling about Lincoln’s sexuality and I absolutely loved how Bayard portrayed their relationship. Were they in love? Maybe. Did they love each other deeply? Absolutely. I enjoyed that Mary and Joshua were two people who loved Lincoln in their own unique ways, and together, made him the President he would later become.
Overall, this was a great read that walked the line of historical fact and historical fiction. If you’re interested in Lincoln, this adds another layer of depth to his persona.
Quotes I liked:
Men don’t always know what they need. That’s why God made women.”
“I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.”
Shop on Amazon Here!
