Southern Illinois University Press specializes in, among other things, books on Lincoln. This extends beyond just Abraham, to the other members of his family--his wife, Mary, and his son, Robert, in particular. This season we have an exciting new book that looks at Mary's complex nature. We're also bringing out a paperback edition of a very popular book that examines Mrs. Lincoln's mental health based on her own writings.
Mary Lincoln is a lightning rod for controversy. Stories reveal widely
different interpretations, and it is impossible to write a definitive version of
her life that will suit everyone. The thirteen engaging essays in this
collection introduce Mary Lincoln’s complex nature and show how she is viewed
today.
The authors’ explanations of her personal and private image stem from a variety of backgrounds, and through these lenses—history, theater, graphic arts, and psychiatry—they present their latest research and assessments. Here they reveal the effects of familial culture and society on her life and give a broader assessment of Mary Lincoln as a woman, wife, and mother. Topics include Mary’s childhood in Kentucky, the early years of her marriage to Abraham, Mary’s love of travel and fashion, the presidential couple’s political partnership, and Mary’s relationship with her son Robert.
The fascinating epilogue meditates on Mary Lincoln’s universal appeal and her enigmatic personality, showcasing the dramatic differences in interpretations. With gripping prose and in-depth documentation, this anthology will capture the imagination of all readers.
The authors’ explanations of her personal and private image stem from a variety of backgrounds, and through these lenses—history, theater, graphic arts, and psychiatry—they present their latest research and assessments. Here they reveal the effects of familial culture and society on her life and give a broader assessment of Mary Lincoln as a woman, wife, and mother. Topics include Mary’s childhood in Kentucky, the early years of her marriage to Abraham, Mary’s love of travel and fashion, the presidential couple’s political partnership, and Mary’s relationship with her son Robert.
The fascinating epilogue meditates on Mary Lincoln’s universal appeal and her enigmatic personality, showcasing the dramatic differences in interpretations. With gripping prose and in-depth documentation, this anthology will capture the imagination of all readers.
~~~~~
This compelling story of the purported insanity of one of
America’s most tragic first ladies covers
Mary Lincoln’s life from childhood to death and asserts that she suffered from
bipolar disorder. Utilizing a set of letters that had been lost for eighty
years, Jason Emerson shows how Mary Lincoln’s predisposition toward psychiatric
illness and a life filled with mental and emotional trauma led her son, Robert
T. Lincoln, to commit her to an insane asylum. Named Book of the Year by the
Illinois State Historical Society, The
Madness of Mary Lincoln is a gripping historical page-turner.
“Jason Emerson should be congratulated
for both his detective work and his historical analysis which have culminated
in a groundbreaking study on the life of this complex and troubled woman.”—Civil War Book Review
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