Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini
Here is a historical fiction selection for your book group. New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini describes the extraordinary friendship between Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, a former slave who won her freedom by the skill of her needle, and the friendship of the First Lady by her devotion. In later years Elizabeth wrote a book about her life with Mrs. Lincoln, 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.
