Martha Washington
Subtitle: first lady of liberty
By: Helen Bryan.
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2002
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 416
Subjects: Washington, Martha, 1731-1802; Washington, George, 1732-1799; Presidents' spouses -- United States -- Biography
Genres: Biography.
Other titles: First lady of liberty
Description: "This reappraisal of America's first First Lady explores how "the Widow Custis" met the challenges of running a huge plantation, examines her whirlwind courtship with the young George Washington, and reveals that the status he gained through their marriage was key to his appointment as commander of the Continental Army.

Richly flavored with detailed descriptions of the realities of colonial life, Martha Washington: First Lady of Liberty also recounts Martha's ceaseless efforts to provide clothing and shelter for the army when the Continental Congress failed to do so.".

"Author Helen Bryan explores many rarely mentioned aspects of Martha's life, including the mysterious death of her mulatto brother-in-law, her frantic search for an effective treatment for her daughter's epilepsy, and her profound unhappiness during Washington's presidency.".

"Supplemented with numerous letters and other communications, vivid portraits of the lives of slaves on Virginia plantations, and first-hand accounts of the glittering social life enjoyed by the elite, Martha Washington is must reading for anyone interested in the American Revolution, colonial life, and the true story of one of the most important and remarkable women in American history."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 403-407) and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note: 1 Twenty-Five Miles as the Crow Flies from Williamsburg; title: 2 "John Dandridge's Daughter"; title: 3 A Young Matron and Her Family; title: 4 The Widow Custis; title: 5 George Washington, His Family and Friends; title: 6 A Twelfth Night Wedding; title: 7 Halcyon Days; title: 8 Uneasy Times; title: 9 Sudden Changes and Milestones; title: 10 "Mrs. Washington, a Warm Loyalist"; title: 11 "I Doe My Dear Sister Most Religiously Wish Thare Was; title: an End to the Matter"; title: 12 "General Washington's Lady, an Example; title: of Persistent Industry"; title: 13 "A Dreary Kind of Place"; title: 14 Middlebrook and Morristown; title: 15 "We Look Upon the Americans as Already at Our Feet"; title: 16 A Long Time Going Home; title: 17 "Under Their Own Vine and Fig Tree"; title: 18 "The General Is Gone to New York"; title: 19 "A State Prisoner"; title: 20 Philadelphia; title: 21 "Duty and Inclination"; title: 22 Transitions; title: 23 "Once More, Under Our Own Vine and Fig Tree"; title: 24 "No More Trials to Pass Through"; title: Epilogue; title: A Culinary Lagniappe: Recipes from Martha Washington's; title: Books of Cookery and Booke of Sweetmeats; title: Notes; title: Bibliography; title: Index.