“A fascinating glimpse into the women of an influential family on the front lines of some of the most important moments of that indelible time.”–Booklist
The New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker returns to her most famous heroine, Mary Todd Lincoln, in this compelling story of love, loss, and sisterhood rich with history and suspense.In May 1875, Elizabeth Todd Edwards … loss, and sisterhood rich with history and suspense.
In May 1875, Elizabeth Todd Edwards reels from news that her younger sister Mary, former First Lady and widow of President Abraham Lincoln, has attempted suicide.
Mary’s shocking act followed legal proceedings arranged by her eldest and only surviving son that declared her legally insane. Although they have long been estranged, Elizabeth knows Mary’s tenuous mental health has deteriorated through decades of trauma and loss. Yet is her suicide attempt truly the impulse of a deranged mind, or the desperate act of a sane woman terrified to be committed to an asylum? And—if her sisters can put past grievances aside—is their love powerful enough to save her?
Maternal Elizabeth, peacemaker Frances, envious Ann, and much adored Emilie had always turned to one another in times of joy and heartache, first as children, and later as young wives and mothers. But when Civil War erupted, the conflict that divided a nation shattered their family. The Todd sisters’s fates were bound to their husbands’ choices as some joined the Lincoln administration, others the Confederate Army.
Now, though discord and tragedy have strained their bonds, Elizabeth knows they must come together as sisters to help Mary in her most desperate hour.
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MRS. LINCOLN’S SISTERS by Jennifer Chiaverini is the wonderful crafted story of the Todd sisters – Mary, Elizabeth, Frances, Ann and Emili. The story is centered round Mary, who as a child dreamed of become First Lady and living in the White House, and her marriage to Abe Lincoln, who eventually helped her to fulfilling that dream. Even so, we learn a great deal about all the sisters and their lives both independently and how they related and lived with Mary.
Although a historical fiction book, I feel that the author did her research making the book feel accurate in details. It’s written in a time of history that impacted not only that present day, but in the generations to come from the slavery issue, to the civil war pitting brother against brother, and the assignation of President Lincoln. The author succeeded in giving me a great glimpse of what life was during those times and to better understand the turn of events of the 1800’s.
When I saw that this book was told not only from several different people’s perspectives, but also several different time lines that were not in chronological order, I was wondering if I could keep the story straight in my mind. However, Jennifer Chiaverini is such a wonderful storyteller that she wove a story that flows smoothly. It made perfect sense to me why the story switched from one person’s perspective to another and to different times in the Todd sister’s history. I was never confused about whose side of the story was begin told or in what timeline the story I was in.
The old saying that we are who history as led us to be is very true with the Lincoln sisters. We can see the parts they played and how they played out in their lives both as children and adults as well as how it affected those around them. We can see that even dreams can turn into nightmares as Mary achieved her dreams of living in the White House only to lose the love of her life by doing so. We learn how that event and having lost three of her children led her to be the person she was.
MRS. LINCOLN’S SISTERS by Jennifer Chiaverini is a book that I would definitely recommend to anyone that enjoys a well-written book about the highs of love and the lows of overcoming loss, family dynamics that have you giving a hug or pulling your hair out (sometimes on the same day) but prove that family is the most important thing, a story of love between opposites that attract or the love of sisters sticking together through thick and thin, or if you just love reading fictional history. It’s a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading and feel that you would to. Give it a chance – you won’t be disappointed. It can definitely be read as a standalone book. I will be checking out more books by this author – including MRS. LINCOLN’S DRESSMAKER.
Too much history for me…..
A lot of books have been written about Mary Todd Lincoln, and of course, her husband Abe. This is the first one I’ve read, but I trust that the author did her homework, with the impressive bibliography she listed. My take on the read is that Mary Lincoln was manipulative, selfish, and a spend thrift. (Yes, she had some hard, sad things in her life, but most of us do.) Her sisters tried to protect her from herself. Today we would call that a dysfunctional family. I’m not sure if that was the author’s intent. Read it and see what you think.
Love the life of Mary Todd Lincoln and her sisters and how fate and tragedy can change a person.
I have every book and pattern book she’s written. I found this one hard to follow.
The only thing I have ever known about Mary Todd Lincoln was she had mental problems and was the wife of Abraham Lincoln.
This story is based on facts and now I have to read a Bio of Mary. Her father tried to populate the nation with his two wives. Amazing people. Those large families back then amaze. How did they support them in the style purportedly they lived?
It was a great follow up to Mrs. LINCOLN’S Dressmaker. Historical background with just enough of a story.
I read 64% of this book and just couldn’t finish it when there are so many other books waiting for me. I wanted to like it and was looking forward to reading about Mary Todd Lincoln and her sisters. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this was so dryly detailed and factual it seemed to be more like a term paper than a novel. Thankfully there were no footnotes. The chapters were told from various sisters’ points of view. Mary had something like five sisters and four step-sisters (so many it was hard to keep track). The chapters were not chronological, but switched back and forth from Mary’s childhood, husband hunting and early married life, as first lady, and as a widow. The random order was confusing and illogical. The middle section of the novel, which is where I gave up, describes the beginnings of the Civil War in minute detail. I think the author forgot that her focus was Mary and her sisters, not U.S. history. The best parts of the novel were describing the lifestyle of the time (clothes, manners, social activities), including the slaves and how the various Todd sisters viewed slavery. I suppose this foreshadows the Civil War.
A major theme of the book is whether or not Mary is insane and should be committed, or later recommitted to an asylum. I found this topic to be so frustrating as everyone (her sisters, brothers-in-law, doctors, lawyers, and adult son as well as Mary herself) had a different opinion and based on the evidence presented I agreed with those who said she was a danger to herself and others. This discussion all takes place after Abe Lincoln is assassinated, but since the chapters are inserted randomly, the evidence and the arguments occur throughout the novel. Apparently this is all a buildup to Mary’s attempted suicide which happens somewhere after I stopped reading (but is included in the publisher’s summary so this isn’t a spoiler). This event causes her sisters to gather together to support Mary. As she was a spoiled, self-centered child and young woman, wife and first lady, it was difficult as a reader as well as her sisters to find empathy for her. And maybe that’s another reason I wasn’t able to finish reading. Mary was an unlikable, unsympathetic person. I can’t recommend this book.
Thanks to Goodreads and William Morrow Publishers for a digital advance reader’s copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
I was unaware that Mary Lincoln appeared to have her mental difficulties since childhood. I was impressed that the sisters were so close , even though there were normal family arguments.
As America is my adopted country, I have a lot of historical ground to cover and, not surprisingly, I love to do that reading well-researched historical fiction! I knew nothing about Mary Lincoln prior to reading this book but I enjoyed every minute of reading it and I’m keen to pick Jennifer Chiaverini’s Mrs Lincoln’s Dressmaker. This one, told by four of her sisters, has a really clever structure and focuses on her later years and possible insanity, while still covering much of their lives before, during and after the Civil War. Definitely recommending!
It was fun and sad to read about what Mary Todd Lincoln’s sisters may have actually been like. They were a large family and the oldest girls seemed to be very close. It was sad to see all the horrors that Mary and her whole family went through. It would be interesting to know if some of Mary’s problems might have been treatable now. This book made me laugh and cry a lot. I received a copy of this book from edelweiss for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Mrs. Lincoln’s Sisters is a great historical fiction that focusses more so on Mary Todd Lincoln, the electric force that was the wife of President Lincoln as well as her family members. What the reader gets to witness is an in-depth look at the battles this family faced within themselves and each other. It was difficult to read how cruel family members can be to each other, yet fascinating to see how they could then be loyal to one another at the same time.
The author does a great job creating these dynamics and placing it into an enjoyable read.
4/5 stars
Thank you GR giveaways and William Morrow for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.