ISBN: 1466309679

Behind the Scenes, Or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House tells the story of Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave who became a successful Washington, D.C., dressmaker and … Mehr…

Behind the Scenes, Or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House tells the story of Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave who became a successful Washington, D.C., dressmaker and confidante of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. This intimate bond allowed Keckley to witness the happy times as well as the tragic events that unfolded within the Lincoln White House. Keckley's post-Civil War life story is part slave narrative, part gossip column, part Horatio Alger story. Though Elizabeth Keckley lived longer as a slave than as modiste to Mary Todd Lincoln, most of her engrossing autobiography is devoted to her White House years. The opening three chapters establish her as a woman to be reckoned with: the "school of slavery," as she calls her bondage, taught her to be fiercely self-reliant, persevering, and defiant, though more than one slavemaster tried to beat her into submission. Having worked as a reputable seamstress for three years while also performing her full-time duties as a slavewoman, she finally managed to buy freedom for both herself and her son. After a brief, unhappy marriage, she began her rapid social ascent from seamstress for the solid South's "best ladies" to Mary Todd Lincoln's best friend and confidante. Elizabeth Keckley's narrative is riveting as she recounts life in the White House during the Lincoln administration in meticulous detail. "Behind the Scenes, Or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House" is a remarkable firsthand narrative of 19th century,abolition,african-american and black,african-american studies,americas,biographical,biographies,biographies and history,biography and history,civil war African-American & Black, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform<

2011, ISBN: 9781466309678

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011-07-26. Paperback. New. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy. Ships Fast. Expedite Shipping Available., C… Mehr…

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011-07-26. Paperback. New. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy. Ships Fast. Expedite Shipping Available., CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011-07-26<

ISBN: 9781466309678

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. PAPERBACK. 1466309679 Special order direct from the distributor . New., CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform