The Spymistress - Softcover

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Praise for Jennifer Chiaverini and the Elm Creek Quilts series "Chiaverini's themes of love, loss, and healing will resonate with many, and her characters' stories are inspiring." --"Publishers Weekly" "Chiaverini has an impressive ability to bring a time and place alive." "--Romantic Times Book Reviews" "Emotionally compelling." "--Chicago Tribune "on "Sonoma"" Rose" "Jennifer Chiaverini has made quite a name for herself with her bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series. From the Civil War to the Roaring Twenties to contemporary settings, these novels have offered suspense, romance, and, at times, in-depth looks into the social, political, and cultural differences that helped shape a nation." --"BookPage" "Chiaverini excels at weaving stories and at character development. We can relate to the residents of Elm Creek Valley because they remind us of folks we know--a cousin, an aunt, or a grandmother." --"Standard-Examiner" (Utah)

"New York Times" bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini is back with another enthralling historical novel set during the Civil War era, this time inspired by the life of "a true Union woman as true as steel" who risked everything by caring for Union prisoners of war -- and stealing Confederate secrets. Born to slave-holding aristocracy in Richmond, Virginia, and educated by Northern Quakers, Elizabeth Van Lew was a paradox of her time. When her native state seceded in April 1861, Van Lew's convictions compelled her to defy the new Confederate regime. Pledging her loyalty to the Lincoln White House, her courage would never waver, even as her wartime actions threatened not only her reputation, but also her life. Van Lew's skills in gathering military intelligence were unparalleled. She helped to construct the Richmond Underground and orchestrated escapes from the infamous Confederate Libby Prison under the guise of humanitarian aid. Her spy ring's reach was vast, from clerks in the Confederate War and Navy Departments to the very home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Although Van Lew was inducted posthumously into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, the astonishing scope of her achievements has never been widely known. In Chiaverini's riveting tale of high-stakes espionage, a great heroine of the Civil War finally gets her due.