*I had only recently heard of this novel through a friend of mine (thanks, Shelly!), but as soon as I knew it had to do with the Lincoln's, I was sold. Recently, I took a trip to Springfield, Illinois to feed my historical/Lincolns/presidential hunger. It was my first time there. I was blown away by all of the history relating to one of the greatest presidents in our country's history in my own home state! While I was there, I picked up the neatest little trinket - check it out here. Here are some photos from my trip!!
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| Rubbing Abe's nose! |
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| One of Mary Todd Lincoln's dresses |
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| In front of the Lincoln's House |
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| Springfield, IL |
Book 22 - Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini
Description: In Mrs. Lincoln’s 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.C. by outfitting the city’s elite. Keckley made history by sewing for First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln within the White House, a trusted witness to many private moments between the President and his wife, two of the most compelling figures in American history.In March 1861, Mrs. Lincoln chose Keckley from among a number of applicants to be her personal “modiste,” responsible not only for creating the First Lady’s gowns, but also for dressing Mrs. Lincoln in the beautiful attire Keckley had fashioned. The relationship between the two women quickly evolved, as Keckley was drawn into the intimate life of the Lincoln family, supporting Mary Todd Lincoln in the loss of first her son, and then her husband to the assassination that stunned the nation and the world. Keckley saved scraps from the dozens of gowns she made for Mrs. Lincoln, eventually piecing together a tribute known as the Mary Todd Lincoln Quilt. She also saved memories, which she fashioned into a book, Behind the Scenes: Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. Upon its publication, Keckley’s memoir created a scandal that compelled Mary Todd Lincoln to sever all ties with her, but in the decades since, Keckley’s story has languished in the archives. In this impeccably researched, engrossing novel, Chiaverini brings history to life in rich, moving style.[GoodReads]
Rich in history and filled with colorful stories,
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker is definitely one I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys time pieces. To be honest, I am not very interested in politics (to say the least). But there is something about the Lincoln's and the 1860s that really catches both my attention and my admiration.
I especially like Elizabeth's character. A former slave, she has recently been able to buy both her own freedom and her son's freedom. In the late 1850s, she moved to Washington D.C. (which she refers to as Washington City) and runs her own business as a seamstress. Working only for Washington D.C.'s most elite socialites, Elizabeth is recommended to Mrs. Lincoln and quickly becomes a part of the White House's inner circle. Not only to does Elizabeth create the most eloquent and one-of-a-kind dresses for Mrs. Lincoln, but she also mends her broken hearts and cares for her family. While Elizabeth knows that she has built the life she wants for herself, she cannot help but aide others who are in need (the Lincoln's, the newly freed slaves, etc.).
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| Abe & Mary Lincoln |
While the story moves through Lincoln's presidency nicely, I thought at times that the story stood too still. I know that Elizabeth was Mrs. Lincoln's her dressmaker. And I know what the daily life in the White House looked like. But I wish Chiaverini could have done a better job at filling some of the gaps in with either new stories or some real history lessons. I also have one very LARGE complaint, though I'm not sure it's aimed toward Jennifer or Mary Todd Lincoln herself. Throughout the entirety of the novel, Mrs. Lincoln endlessly complains about how she wishes her life would end so she would no longer have to deal with certain trials: her son's death, her husband's death, her failing reputation, and her never-ending debt that continues piling throughout her life. Multiple times throughout the novel, I had to set it down and shout, "Well then, just do it already!" During the 1860s, I imagine that the First Lady had more than her fair share of tribulations to occupy her time. Honestly, I would never agree to my husband taking up the most important job in the country. But at the same time, Mary Todd Lincoln was a very gifted woman who exhibits proper ethics, strong convictions, and has her family's best interests in mind. There is no reason, then or now, for her to spend her days welcoming death. In regards to the novel, I suppose Mrs. Lincoln isn't the only one to blame for her actions. While she runs many of her ideas (many of which are toxic, though their intentions seemed to be in the right place...most of the time) past Elizabeth, Elizabeth makes no attempt to stop Mrs. Lincoln from carrying out her extravagant ideas (one being that she fires President Lincoln's favorite doorman on the grounds that she suspected him of stealing from the White House). Both women are at fault for their actions, and while both make great accomplishments throughout their lives, their negative actions seems to run on par alongside one another.
Having now added this novel to my repertoire of Lincoln memorabilia, I have to get back to Springfield ASAP to pick up
this little trinket!
Meet the author: Jennifer Chiaverini is the author of ten Elm Creek Quilts novels and An Elm Creek Quilts Sampler and An Elm Creek Quilts Album, as well as Elm Creek Quilts and Return to Elm Creek, two collections of quilt projects inspired by the series, and is the designer of the Elm Creek Quilts fabric lines from Red Rooster fabrics. She lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin.[GoodReads]
To visit Jennifer, follow these links:
Jennifer Chiaverini SITE
Facebook
UPCOMING BOOK:
The Testing by
Joelle Charbonneau
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