Jennifer
Chiaverini kicked off her book tour for her new historical novel, Mrs. Lincoln’s
Dressmaker, here in Madison this week.
Jennifer is best known for her Elm Creek Quilts series of books. If you
are a quilter you probably already know of her.
Chiaverini kicked off her book tour for her new historical novel, Mrs. Lincoln’s
Dressmaker, here in Madison this week.
Jennifer is best known for her Elm Creek Quilts series of books. If you
are a quilter you probably already know of her.
While she was
researching The Lost Quilter, Jennifer came across a post-Civil War era
patriotic “crazy” quilt that was attributed to Elizabeth Keckley, a
former slave and eventual dressmaker for and close confidant of Mary Todd
Lincoln.
Then when she was researching
The Union Quilters, she came across a memoir written by Mrs. Keckley. Thus was born the idea for this particular
historical novel, which is based on the relationship between Mrs. Keckley and
Mrs. Lincoln.
If the crowd
at Barnes and Noble is any indication, Jennifer’s usual following, made up
largely though not exclusively of quilters who love to read, or readers who
love to quilt — has just swelled to include Lincolnphiles, history buffs, and
anyone who recently saw Sally Fields and Gloria Reuben in the new Stephen
Spielberg movie, Lincoln. Oh, yeah, and
Daniel Day Lewis was in it, too.
at Barnes and Noble is any indication, Jennifer’s usual following, made up
largely though not exclusively of quilters who love to read, or readers who
love to quilt — has just swelled to include Lincolnphiles, history buffs, and
anyone who recently saw Sally Fields and Gloria Reuben in the new Stephen
Spielberg movie, Lincoln. Oh, yeah, and
Daniel Day Lewis was in it, too.
ElizabethKeckley is an intriguing figure in American history on several levels. First
off, she was born a slave. After becoming a seamstress, she bought her and her
son’s freedom while living and working in St. Louis. Several years later she
moved to Washington D.C. where she was introduced to the wife of the newly
inaugurated President. She quickly took
on the role of Mrs. Lincoln’s dress designer and maker as well as personal
dresser. That put her in the unique
position of becoming a friend and confidant to one of the most intriguing First
Ladies in our nation’s history. She was witness to all sides of Mary Todd
Lincoln’s complex moods and personality.
 |
| Mary Todd Lincoln |
Mrs. Keckley
was also a political activist, working to raise funds for an organization that provided
basic necessities as well as emotional support to recently freed slaves and sick and
wounded soldiers.
She was a mother who made sure her son was well
education, but suffered his death as a soldier in the Union Army. And she was a
writer whose published autobiography, Behind the Scenes in the Lincoln White
House, revealed much about the private life of the enigmatic Mrs. Lincoln and provided much of the grist for Chiaverini’s
novel.
was also a political activist, working to raise funds for an organization that provided
basic necessities as well as emotional support to recently freed slaves and sick and
wounded soldiers.
She was a mother who made sure her son was well
education, but suffered his death as a soldier in the Union Army. And she was a
writer whose published autobiography, Behind the Scenes in the Lincoln White
House, revealed much about the private life of the enigmatic Mrs. Lincoln and provided much of the grist for Chiaverini’s
novel.
 |
| Jennifer Chiaverini |
Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker just jumped to the top of my “must read” list of
books, perhaps along with Jennifer Fleischner’s non-fiction account, Mrs.Lincoln and Mrs. Keckley.
Jennifer Chiaverini has just begun her nine city book tour. But with an early book release, coinciding (not
accidently) with the Lincoln movie hitting theaters and with awards season, you can
bet that book tour will expand quickly.
Watch for Jennifer to come to your city.
She’s passionate about her book, and just as entertaining in person as
she is on the page.
accidently) with the Lincoln movie hitting theaters and with awards season, you can
bet that book tour will expand quickly.
Watch for Jennifer to come to your city.
She’s passionate about her book, and just as entertaining in person as
she is on the page.
