A sweeping historical novel, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker illuminates the extraordinary relationship the two women shared, beginning in the hallowed halls of the White House during the trials of the Civil War and enduring almost, but not quite, to the end of Mrs. Lincoln's days.
Praise for Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker
"Required Reading...The story of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and Lizzie Keckley, a former slave who became Mrs. Lincoln's seamstress and confidante. After the president's assassination, Keckley created the Mary Todd Lincoln quilt and also a scandalous memoir. A new spin on the story."-- New York Post
"Jennifer Chiaverini imagines the first lady's most private affairs through the eyes of an unlikely confidante."-- Harper's Bazaar
"Chiaverini has drawn a loving portrait of a complex and gifted woman... Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker helps to illuminate the path on which her long and remarkable life led her."-- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"All the characters are brilliantly written, and readers will enjoy getting to know them. [Chiaverini] brings to life long-forgotten snapshots of America's past with style, grace and respect."-- RT Book Reviews
"Taking readers through times of war and peace as seen through the eyes of an extraordinary woman, the author brings Civil War Washington to vivid life through her meticulously researched authentic detail. Chiaverini's characters are compelling and accurate; the reader truly feels drawn into the intimate scenes at the White House."-- Library Journal