Mary Todd Lincoln is one of history’s most misunderstood and enigmatic women. The first president’s wife to be called First Lady, she was a political strategist, a supporter of emancipation, and a mother who survived the loss of three children and the assassination of her beloved husband. Yet she also ran her family into debt, held seances in the White House, and was committed to an insane asylum. In Janis Cooke Newman’s debut novel, Mary Todd Lincoln shares the story of her life in her own words. Writing from Bellevue Place asylum, she takes readers from her tempestuous childhood in a slaveholding Southern family through the years after her husband’s death. A dramatic tale filled with passion and depression, poverty and ridicule, infidelity and redemption, Mary allows us entry into the inner, intimate world of this brave and fascinating woman.
This was a fascinating story of the life of Mary Todd Lincoln. What a sad life she lived. From losing her mother at an early age, to losing many of her own children and husband; she had a lot to overcome. I found her forwardness in the bedroom (and out of it), her seances in the White House and her shopping addictions to be completely an effect of what she had survived in her younger years. Her time in the asylum were hard to read and described perfectly for the times. I learned so much at an enjoyable pace with interesting historical information.
I will never look at my $5 dollar bills the same!
Pun-filled book about the love between parent and child Encourages family bonding, laughter Charming, heart-melting illustrations on each page Words by Rose Rossner Pictures by Sydney Hanson
Pun-filled book about the love between parent and child Encourages family bonding, laughter Charming, heart-melting illustrations on each page Words by Rose Rossner Pictures by Sydney Hanson
Two years ago my book club did a series on women/wives, e.g., The Reliable Wife, The Inconvient Wife, The 19th Wife, etc. Not on the required reading list was Mary, Mrs. A. Lincoln, which was very unfortunate for our group. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and feel it was probably the best of the whole lot. Marilyn B.
Two years ago my book club did a series on women/wives, e.g., The Reliable Wife, The Inconvient Wife, The 19th Wife, etc. Not on the required reading list was Mary, Mrs. A. Lincoln, which was very unfortunate for our group. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and feel it was probably the best of the whole lot.
Marilyn B.