Reviews
Praise for Jennifer Chiaverini and her Novels "History-and its colorful characters-come alive." USA Today "Jennifer Chiaverini imagines the First Lady's most private affairs through the eyes of an unlikely confidante." Harper's Bazaar "Chiaverini has drawn a loving portrait of a complex and gifted woman . . . Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker helps to illuminate the path on which her long and remarkable life led her." St. Louis Post-Dispatch Praise for The Spymistres s "[A] must read book . . . Author Chiaverini has a knack for finding fascinating, if unheralded, women in history - she favors the Civil War era - and shining a light on them with readable historical novels." New York Post "Compelling." Historical Novel Society "Jennifer Chiaverini's latest bestseller will thrill Civil War buffs and anyone who loves reading about American history and the contribution of women to the momentous events that formed this country." Bookreporter Praise for Mrs. Lincoln's Rival "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, [Jennifer Chiaverini's] novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Filled with details of the social intrigue, slights and innuendo that occurred between the two, the book will appeal to anyone who loves a novel filled with the appearance of numerous fictional accounts of and appearances by the figures who shaped America's history during the period of the Civil War." --Bookreporter, Praise for MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE "The battles are described in detail, but they do not overwhelm, nor do they overshadow the main topic. Chiaverini is a talented author who clearly did her research." -- RT Book Reviews "[Chiaverini's] depiction of the essential decency of some of our nation's early leaders is a high point." -- Booklist ""The intense research Chiaverini did to document the relationship between Julia and Ulysses Grant is admirable, and made their love story factual and heartwarming. It certainly gave this reader a different perspective of the famous general... All in all this work of historical fiction was a delightful read." -- Missourian "But never before has [Chiaverini] told a story of such touching beauty and original perspective as she does now in her latest tome, MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE." -- Bookreporter "Chiaverini's fans will love this light historical romance." -- Kirkus "Chiaverini's eye for detail coupled with an ability to breathe life into her characters ensures an engrossing period piece that does not fail to both entertain and inform." -- Library Journal Praise for Jennifer Chiaverini and her Novels "History--and its colorful characters--come alive." - USA Today "Jennifer Chiaverini imagines the First Lady's most private affairs through the eyes of an unlikely confidante." - Harper's Bazaar "Chiaverini has drawn a loving portrait of a complex and gifted woman . . . Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker helps to illuminate the path on which her long and remarkable life led her." - St. Louis Post-Dispatch Praise for The Spymistres s "[A] must read book . . . Author Chiaverini has a knack for finding fascinating, if unheralded, women in history -- she favors the Civil War era -- and shining a light on them with readable historical novels." - New York Post "Compelling." - Historical Novel Society "Jennifer Chiaverini's latest bestseller will thrill Civil War buffs and anyone who loves reading about American history and the contribution of women to the momentous events that formed this country." -Bookreporter Praise for Mrs. Lincoln's Rival "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, [Jennifer Chiaverini's] novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Filled with details of the social intrigue, slights and innuendo that occurred between the two, the book will appeal to anyone who loves a novel filled with the appearance of numerous fictional accounts of and appearances by the figures who shaped America's history during the period of the Civil War." --Bookreporter, Praise for MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE "[Chiaverini's] depiction of the essential decency of some of our nation's early leaders is a high point." -- Booklist "Chiaverini's fans will love this light historical romance." -- Kirkus "Chiaverini's eye for detail coupled with an ability to breathe life into her characters ensures an engrossing period piece that does not fail to both entertain and inform." -- Library Journal Praise for Jennifer Chiaverini and her Novels "History--and its colorful characters--come alive." - USA Today "Jennifer Chiaverini imagines the First Lady's most private affairs through the eyes of an unlikely confidante." - Harper's Bazaar "Chiaverini has drawn a loving portrait of a complex and gifted woman . . . Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker helps to illuminate the path on which her long and remarkable life led her." - St. Louis Post-Dispatch Praise for The Spymistres s "[A] must read book . . . Author Chiaverini has a knack for finding fascinating, if unheralded, women in history -- she favors the Civil War era -- and shining a light on them with readable historical novels." - New York Post "Compelling." - Historical Novel Society "Jennifer Chiaverini's latest bestseller will thrill Civil War buffs and anyone who loves reading about American history and the contribution of women to the momentous events that formed this country." -Bookreporter Praise for Mrs. Lincoln's Rival "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, [Jennifer Chiaverini's] novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Filled with details of the social intrigue, slights and innuendo that occurred between the two, the book will appeal to anyone who loves a novel filled with the appearance of numerous fictional accounts of and appearances by the figures who shaped America's history during the period of the Civil War." --Bookreporter -- Chiaverini, Praise for MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE "[Chiaverini's] depiction of the essential decency of some of our nation's early leaders is a high point." -- Booklist, Praise for MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE "[Chiaverini's] depiction of the essential decency of some of our nation's early leaders is a high point." -- Booklist "Chiaverini's fans will love this light historical romance." -- Kirkus , Praise for MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE "The battles are described in detail, but they do not overwhelm, nor do they overshadow the main topic. Chiaverini is a talented author who clearly did her research." -- RT Book Reviews "[Chiaverini's] depiction of the essential decency of some of our nation's early leaders is a high point." -- Booklist ""The intense research Chiaverini did to document the relationship between Julia and Ulysses Grant is admirable, and made their love story factual and heartwarming. It certainly gave this reader a different perspective of the famous general... All in all this work of historical fiction was a delightful read." -- Missourian "But never before has [Chiaverini] told a story of such touching beauty and original perspective as she does now in her latest tome, MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE." -- Bookreporter "Chiaverini's fans will love this light historical romance." -- Kirkus "Chiaverini's eye for detail coupled with an ability to breathe life into her characters ensures an engrossing period piece that does not fail to both entertain and inform." -- Library Journal Praise for Jennifer Chiaverini and her Novels "History--and its colorful characters--come alive." - USA Today "Jennifer Chiaverini imagines the First Lady's most private affairs through the eyes of an unlikely confidante." - Harper's Bazaar "Chiaverini has drawn a loving portrait of a complex and gifted woman . . . Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker helps to illuminate the path on which her long and remarkable life led her." - St. Louis Post-Dispatch Praise for The Spymistres s "[A] must read book . . . Author Chiaverini has a knack for finding fascinating, if unheralded, women in history -- she favors the Civil War era -- and shining a light on them with readable historical novels." - New York Post "Compelling." - Historical Novel Society "Jennifer Chiaverini's latest bestseller will thrill Civil War buffs and anyone who loves reading about American history and the contribution of women to the momentous events that formed this country." -Bookreporter Praise for Mrs. Lincoln's Rival "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, [Jennifer Chiaverini's] novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Filled with details of the social intrigue, slights and innuendo that occurred between the two, the book will appeal to anyone who loves a novel filled with the appearance of numerous fictional accounts of and appearances by the figures who shaped America's history during the period of the Civil War." --Bookreporter, Praise for MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE "The battles are described in detail, but they do not overwhelm, nor do they overshadow the main topic. Chiaverini is a talented author who clearly did her research." -- RT Book Reviews "[Chiaverini's] depiction of the essential decency of some of our nation's early leaders is a high point." -- Booklist ""The intense research Chiaverini did to document the relationship between Julia and Ulysses Grant is admirable, and made their love story factual and heartwarming. It certainly gave this reader a different perspective of the famous general... All in all this work of historical fiction was a delightful read." -- Missourian "Chiaverini's fans will love this light historical romance." -- Kirkus "Chiaverini's eye for detail coupled with an ability to breathe life into her characters ensures an engrossing period piece that does not fail to both entertain and inform." -- Library Journal Praise for Jennifer Chiaverini and her Novels "History--and its colorful characters--come alive." - USA Today "Jennifer Chiaverini imagines the First Lady's most private affairs through the eyes of an unlikely confidante." - Harper's Bazaar "Chiaverini has drawn a loving portrait of a complex and gifted woman . . . Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker helps to illuminate the path on which her long and remarkable life led her." - St. Louis Post-Dispatch Praise for The Spymistres s "[A] must read book . . . Author Chiaverini has a knack for finding fascinating, if unheralded, women in history -- she favors the Civil War era -- and shining a light on them with readable historical novels." - New York Post "Compelling." - Historical Novel Society "Jennifer Chiaverini's latest bestseller will thrill Civil War buffs and anyone who loves reading about American history and the contribution of women to the momentous events that formed this country." -Bookreporter Praise for Mrs. Lincoln's Rival "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, [Jennifer Chiaverini's] novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Filled with details of the social intrigue, slights and innuendo that occurred between the two, the book will appeal to anyone who loves a novel filled with the appearance of numerous fictional accounts of and appearances by the figures who shaped America's history during the period of the Civil War." --Bookreporter
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker and Mrs. Lincoln's Rival imagines the inner life of Julia Grant, beloved as a Civil War general's wife and the First Lady, yet who grappled with a profound and complex relationship with the slave who was her namesake--until she forged a proud identity of her own. In 1844, Missouri belle Julia Dent met dazzling horseman Lieutenant Ulysses S Grant. Four years passed before their parents permitted them to wed, and the groom's abolitionist family refused to attend the ceremony. Since childhood, Julia owned as a slave another Julia, known as Jule. Jule guarded her mistress's closely held twin secrets: She had perilously poor vision but was gifted with prophetic sight. So it was that Jule became Julia's eyes to the world. And what a world it was, marked by gathering clouds of war. The Grants vowed never to be separated, but as Ulysses rose through the ranks--becoming general in chief of the Union Army--so did the stakes of their pact. During the war, Julia would travel, often in the company of Jule and the four Grant children, facing unreliable transportation and certain danger to be at her husband's side. Yet Julia and Jule saw two different wars. While Julia spoke out for women--Union and Confederate--she continued to hold Jule as a slave behind Union lines. Upon the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Jule claimed her freedom and rose to prominence as a businesswoman in her own right, taking the honorary title Madame. The two women's paths continued to cross throughout the Grants' White House years in Washington, DC, and later in New York City, the site of Grant's Tomb. Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule is the first novel to chronicle this singular relationship, bound by sight and shadow., In 1844, shy Missouri Belle Julia Dent met Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant, a brilliant horseman and reluctant soldier. The two fell deeply in love, but four years passed before Julia's father permitted them to wed. The groom's abolitionist family refused to attend the ceremony. Despite her new husband's objections, Julia kept as her slave another Julia, known as Jule. Since childhood they had been companions and confidantes; Julia was gifted with prophetic dreams, which Jule helped her interpret. Julia secretly taught Jule how to read, while Jule became her vision-impaired mistress's eyes to the world. But beneath the gathering clouds of war, the stark distinctions between mistress and slave inevitably strained and altered their tenuous friendship. As Ulysses rose through the ranks of the Union army during the Civil War, he often summoned Julia and their four children to join him at military headquarters. The general's wife rarely failed to bring her favorite maid along, tearing Jule from her own beloved husband, whom she had secretly married in defiance of the law. Both women risked certain danger as they travelled to and from the field of war, but for Jule the hazards of travel also brought knowledge and opportunity. Even as Julia Grant championed the Union cause and advocated for suffering women on both sides of the brutal conflict, she continued to hold Jule as a slave behind federal lines - until the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation inspired Jule to make a daring bid for freedom. Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule is the first novel to chronicle the singular relationship between these two remarkable women, bound by light and shadow. Praise for Jennifer Chiaverini and her novels 'History - and its colourful characters - come alive.' USA Today on Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker 'A must-read book . . . Chiaverini has a knack for finding fascinating, if unheralded, women in history - she favors the Civil War era - and shining a light on them with readable historical novels.' New York Post on The Spymistress 'The book will appeal to anyone who loves a novel filled with the appearance of numerous fictional accounts of and appearances by the figures who shaped America's history during the period of the Civil War.' Bookreporter.com on Mrs. Lincoln's Rival 'Jennifer Chiaverini imagines the First Lady's most private affairs through the eyes of an unlikely confidante.' Harper's Bazaar on Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker 'Jennifer Chiaverini's latest bestseller will thrill Civil War buffs and anyone who loves reading about American history and the contributions of women to the momentous events that formed this country.' Bookreporter.com on The Spymistress 'In addition to simply being fascinating stories, Jennifer Chiaverini's novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years.' Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Mrs. Lincoln's Rival
