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mctmama's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting - I knew little of Mary Todd Lincoln, or her seamstress, Elizabeth Keckley. Interesting to see how in debt Mary Todd Lincoln was in those times, and how littel Lincoln knew of it.
The most interesting part of the story was learning about Keckley's life - her bondage, the attempt to "break her spirt" by her owner, and her strength in obtaining the funds to buy her freedom. She lived in freedom in Washington, DC, and even established herself as a well known seamstress - where she became friends with the Lincoln family. Interesting to read about the Lincolns and that time period.
The most interesting part of the story was learning about Keckley's life - her bondage, the attempt to "break her spirt" by her owner, and her strength in obtaining the funds to buy her freedom. She lived in freedom in Washington, DC, and even established herself as a well known seamstress - where she became friends with the Lincoln family. Interesting to read about the Lincolns and that time period.
sammah's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book after I finally got around to touring the Mary Todd Lincoln house. The man working in the shop encouraged my choice, as the author had been a personal friend and seamstress for the former first lady. It took me a few months to get to it on my reading list, but I have to say I enjoyed it. It was interesting to read about that period in time from the perspective of an African American woman, and even more so to read about your relationship with the president and the first family. For history buffs I would recommend this book as a quick but intriguing read.
erynlasbelin's review
4.0
It's little wonder that Mrs. Lincoln and Elizabeth's other friends felt betrayed by this book. It reveals a great deal of personal information about their lives, information that they surely did not want the whole country to know. (Supposedly, Elizabeth did not want the letters published, and that was the fault of her editor - still, she handed them in.) But it's for that very reason that this book is so valuable to anyone interested in American history.
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