Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini holds a mixed reviews rating of 3.41 out of 5, based on 16.4K reader ratings. First published in 2013. The book spans 368 pages.
About Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker
In Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, novelist Jennifer Chiaverini presents a stunning account of the friendship that blossomed between Mary Todd Lincoln and her seamstress, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Keckley, a former slave who gained her professional reputation in Washington, D.C. by outfitting the city’s elite. Keckley made history by sewing for First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln within the White House, a trusted witness to many private moments between the President and his wife, two of the most compelling figures in American history. In March 1861, Mrs. Lincoln chose Keckley from among a number of applicants to be her personal “modiste,” responsible not only for creating the First Lady’s gowns, but also for dressing Mrs. Lincoln in the beautiful attire Keckley had fashioned. The relationship between the two women quickly evolved, as Keckley was drawn into the intimate life of the Lincoln family, supporting Mary Todd Lincoln in the loss of first her son, and then her husband to the assassination that stunned the nation and the world. Keckley saved scraps from the dozens of gowns she made for Mrs. Lincoln, eventually piecing together a tribute known as the Mary Todd Lincoln Quilt. She also saved memories, which she fashioned into a book, Behind the Scenes: Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. Upon its publication, Keckley’s memoir created a scandal that compelled Mary Todd Lincoln to sever all ties with her, but in the decades since, Keckley’s story has languished in the archives. In this impeccably researched, engrossing novel, Chiaverini brings history to life in rich, moving style.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Jennifer Chiaverini |
| Published | 2013 |
| Pages | 368 |
| Genres | Historical Fiction, Fiction, History, Biography & Memoir, Non-Fiction |
| Average Rating | 3.41 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 16,366 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker?
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker is categorized as Historical Fiction, Fiction, History, Biography & Memoir. Its primary genre classification is Historical Fiction.
Is Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker worth reading?
Based on 16.4K reader ratings, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker has an average score of 3.41 out of 5.00, which is considered "Mixed Reviews."
How many pages is Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker?
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker has 368 pages.
Who wrote Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker?
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker was written by Jennifer Chiaverini. It was first published in 2013.
What is the ISBN for Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker?
The ISBN-13 for Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker is 9780525953620.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
