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ecs_etera's review
4.0
A thoughtful, nuanced, and comprehensive look at the life of Sara Childress Polk.
jeremyanderberg's review
4.0
“Sarah was no ordinary wife.”
For all the positives of Borneman’s book, he didn’t quite write enough about the utterly fascinating Sarah Polk. The couple was childless, which in 19th century America meant a large bit of freedom from the sometimes enslaving duties of child-rearing and house-keeping. In any list of influential First Ladies, Sarah is always near the top. She was intensely interested in politics and served a number of unique roles for James, including advisor, communications director, and more. Sarah pushed him, gave him advice, and networked on his behalf.
In this absorbing book, historian Amy Greenberg chronicles Sarah’s life, which included 40+ years as a widow — James died shortly after his single term ended.
While Sarah’s life is immensely interesting (including, for me, her involvement in the Civil War), the real strength of the book is Greenberg’s take on women in American politics in the 19th century. While they were often hidden from public view, women were rather influential in Washington DC and beyond, and Sarah Polk was the exemplar of that influence.
Greenberg gives great context, but is also witty, sometimes sarcastic and ironic, and just so honest and even opinionated. I always appreciate that in a historian. She doesn’t dance around the weaknesses or hypocrisies of either of the Polks.
Another great book for anyone interested in US history and especially the role of women in politics. I’m looking forward to reading Greenberg’s other books too.
For all the positives of Borneman’s book, he didn’t quite write enough about the utterly fascinating Sarah Polk. The couple was childless, which in 19th century America meant a large bit of freedom from the sometimes enslaving duties of child-rearing and house-keeping. In any list of influential First Ladies, Sarah is always near the top. She was intensely interested in politics and served a number of unique roles for James, including advisor, communications director, and more. Sarah pushed him, gave him advice, and networked on his behalf.
In this absorbing book, historian Amy Greenberg chronicles Sarah’s life, which included 40+ years as a widow — James died shortly after his single term ended.
While Sarah’s life is immensely interesting (including, for me, her involvement in the Civil War), the real strength of the book is Greenberg’s take on women in American politics in the 19th century. While they were often hidden from public view, women were rather influential in Washington DC and beyond, and Sarah Polk was the exemplar of that influence.
Greenberg gives great context, but is also witty, sometimes sarcastic and ironic, and just so honest and even opinionated. I always appreciate that in a historian. She doesn’t dance around the weaknesses or hypocrisies of either of the Polks.
Another great book for anyone interested in US history and especially the role of women in politics. I’m looking forward to reading Greenberg’s other books too.
spinnerroweok's review
3.0
Greenberg digs into the life of Sarah Polk. She finds the good and the bad and lays it all out there. An interesting look at elite Southern attitudes toward slavery.
holtfan's review
4.0
Like most of the presidents somewhere between John Quincey Adams and Abraham Lincoln, I have only the dimmest impression of President James Polk. Was he the one with the baby face? No? He's the one with long hair? Cool. Don't know the man. Certainly don't know his wife.
But as this biography successfully illustrates, she is a woman infinitely worth knowing.
Sarah Polk wielded incredible political power in an era when women barely possessed property rights, much less the right the vote. Her influence and political skill garnered her the reputation of the perfect Southern lady, even while behind the scenes she was the recognized manager of her husband's political campaigns and press. She leveraged female helplessness to an artform during the Civil War to keep her property together though sympathizing and maybe outright assisting southern succession. And she maintained a very strong network of family ties despite not having (and evincing no desire to have) any children herself.
Greenberg contrasts Sarah Polk's subtle but significant political power with the burgeoning women's movement happening in Seneca Falls at the same time. She casts Sarah Polk in the role of a Nancy Reagan or Phyllis Schlafly in contrast to first ladies like Hilary Clinton. But I appreciate that she leaves it there. While some interesting inferences come from the comparison, Sarah Polk manages to stand on her own in a really unique way.
In particular, I enjoyed how the book emphasizes her friendships. Whether it was the way she benefited from Dolly Madison when she first came to D.C. or the relationship she developed with Andrew Johnson, this remarkable woman knew how to network.
And while at 400 pages this biography seems quite long, when you consider all those relationships, it also feels like it barely scrapes the surface of Sarah's life.
Where I would say the bio feels weakest is also probably where the author does the best walking a fine line: with Sarah Polk's problematic legacy. On the one hand, she was an impressive role model and an amazing woman in her own right. On the other hand, her treatment of slaves while a slaveowner, her support for the Confederacy, and her refusal to adopt any of the various nieces and nephews she raised fits uneasily with our modern values. Even the way she played the 'weak female card' to get her way during the Civil War made me cringe a little.
Lady First doesn't shy away from these components—in fact, it quite bluntly brings them forward and doesn't waste too much time in direct condemnation. It places enough trust in the reader to recognize the problem and inconsistency in her behavior.
But at the same time, it also jus plain left me wanting more. There were so many elements of Sarah's life to dig into but her character flaws get so much time that they felt repetitive in contrast with everything else. I don't know how the author could have balanced it better without leaving the reader frustrated because she didn't focus enough on the bad...but that's where it left me.
Overall, though, I'd say that if you enjoy American history and biographies of strong but forgotten women, this is well worth the time.
But as this biography successfully illustrates, she is a woman infinitely worth knowing.
Sarah Polk wielded incredible political power in an era when women barely possessed property rights, much less the right the vote. Her influence and political skill garnered her the reputation of the perfect Southern lady, even while behind the scenes she was the recognized manager of her husband's political campaigns and press. She leveraged female helplessness to an artform during the Civil War to keep her property together though sympathizing and maybe outright assisting southern succession. And she maintained a very strong network of family ties despite not having (and evincing no desire to have) any children herself.
Greenberg contrasts Sarah Polk's subtle but significant political power with the burgeoning women's movement happening in Seneca Falls at the same time. She casts Sarah Polk in the role of a Nancy Reagan or Phyllis Schlafly in contrast to first ladies like Hilary Clinton. But I appreciate that she leaves it there. While some interesting inferences come from the comparison, Sarah Polk manages to stand on her own in a really unique way.
In particular, I enjoyed how the book emphasizes her friendships. Whether it was the way she benefited from Dolly Madison when she first came to D.C. or the relationship she developed with Andrew Johnson, this remarkable woman knew how to network.
And while at 400 pages this biography seems quite long, when you consider all those relationships, it also feels like it barely scrapes the surface of Sarah's life.
Where I would say the bio feels weakest is also probably where the author does the best walking a fine line: with Sarah Polk's problematic legacy. On the one hand, she was an impressive role model and an amazing woman in her own right. On the other hand, her treatment of slaves while a slaveowner, her support for the Confederacy, and her refusal to adopt any of the various nieces and nephews she raised fits uneasily with our modern values. Even the way she played the 'weak female card' to get her way during the Civil War made me cringe a little.
Lady First doesn't shy away from these components—in fact, it quite bluntly brings them forward and doesn't waste too much time in direct condemnation. It places enough trust in the reader to recognize the problem and inconsistency in her behavior.
But at the same time, it also jus plain left me wanting more. There were so many elements of Sarah's life to dig into but her character flaws get so much time that they felt repetitive in contrast with everything else. I don't know how the author could have balanced it better without leaving the reader frustrated because she didn't focus enough on the bad...but that's where it left me.
Overall, though, I'd say that if you enjoy American history and biographies of strong but forgotten women, this is well worth the time.
sophronisba's review against another edition
4.0
On the one hand, Sarah Polk used the cult of domesticity to expertly wield soft power as First Lady. On the other hand, she was an unrepentant slaveowner who never really disavowed secession. The author of this book might admire her a tiny bit too much, but the research here is impressive and pathbreaking, so I salute her for that. The book was fascinating, and I walked away mildly infuriated and conducting a vehement argument in my head with a woman who died 140 years ago. Which is no doubt a tribute to the author's writing if not her analysis.
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