Strength And Honor: The Life Of Dolley Madison
Based on more than 2,000 letters, this intimate portrait of Dolley Madison is buttressed by a wealth of primary sources. According to the author, the "best-loved first lady of the nineteenth century" was respected for her intelligence, wit, and interpersonal skills. A young Quaker widow, Dolley Payne Todd was introduced to James Madison by Aaron Burr, becoming an indispensable domestic and political helpmate to the often diffident and ailing Madison. An accomplished hostess and fashion trendsetter, she was also practical, levelheaded, and politically astute, able to charm dandies and statesmen alike. Lauded as a national heroine for her courageous and quick-thinking behavior during the War of 1812, she earned a well-deserved place of honor among the pantheon of beloved First Ladies. Although biographies of Dolley Madison are plentiful, Cote's reinterpretation of her life provides a very human profile of a legendary historical figure.Margaret FlanaganCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.