The living White House Book

I haven't read many books on Lincoln, but the more I learn beyond my high school social studies class, the more he emerges as a sympathethic and fascinating man. He obviously had a singular intelligence and the unique ability to attract capable men and women to his side.

Although this book deals mainly with the relationship between Mary and Lincoln, it also does a fair bit of analysis of Lincoln's political aspirations and achievements (whetting my appetite to tackle the enormous tome Team of Rivals). Epstein does a good job sorting through the facts and the rumors of their tempestuous marriage, and offers a taste of psychoanalysis as well. Obviously, his conclusions on the state of their relationship are based on his interpretation of events: for example, how Lincoln really felt Mary and her tantrums, and how Mary really dealt with Lincoln's long absences are not a matter of record but are inference on Epstein's part. And despite Mary's horrible reputation as a lunatic/harridan, he was able to also paint her as a woman deserving of sympathy. Despite her psychiatric afflictions, she loved her husband and was capable of great strength herself. Her courage in facing the threat of assassination alone during the train ride to the White House (while Lincoln was scuttled in to Washington secretly by his bodyguards) is nothing short of amazing.

I must admit, though, that it did take me a while to get into this book. The first section dealing with their courtship was rocky at best, careening back and forth between present and past without rhyme or reason. It was so bad, actually, that I considered giving the book up... but after their marriage, Epstein settled into a regular chronological pattern that made it much easier to follow.

I was also disappointed that the author did not carry the book beyond Lincoln's death, although I understand his reasons for not doing so. I have read The Emancipator's Wife, a fictional re-telling of Mary's life following the assassination, but a non-fictional account would be quite interesting.