The First Lady and the Rebel A Novel by Susan Higginbotham SOURCEBOOKS Landmark
I enjoyed this moving story of Mary Lincoln and her rebel family very much. All that I knew ábout her before reading this captivating historical novel was that she came from the South, and she suffered from mental illness. Susan Higginbotham brings her to life, and she also tells the tales of her half-sisters who actually married men who fought for the Confederacy! As Lincoln himself said, America was truly a 'house divided'.
It would have been easier to just tell Mary's story, because many readers may find it difficult to sympathize with Emily and Elodie Todd. However, Higginbotham manages to show all points of view, and she made me interested in learning more about this complicated family.
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