Lincoln's Lady Spymaster - The Untold Story of the Abolitionist Southern Belle Who Helped Win

A thrilling, cinematic saga of a Southern belle whose espionage for Abraham Lincoln and the Union helped win the Civil War. Wealthy Southern belle Elizabeth Van Lew had it all. Money, charm, wit--the biggest mansion in Richmond. So why risk everything to become the Civil War''s most productive Union spy? The answer was simple: freedom. In this gripping history of a secret espionage genius, Gerri Willis reveals how Elizabeth built a flourishing spy network in the heart of the Confederate Capitol. Flouting society''s expectations for women, Elizabeth infiltrated prisons, defied public opinion, and recruited an underground movement of freed slaves, secret Unionists, and brave captives. Putting her straitlaced Victorian past behind her, Elizabeth encountered vivid characters--assassins, socialites, escape artists, and cross-dressing spies. From grave robbery to a bold voyage across enemy lines, her escapades grew more and more daring. It paid off. Her agents were so well-placed that she had spies gathering information in both the Confederate War Department and the Richmond White House, and couriers providing General Ulysses S. Grant with crucial, daily intelligence for the war''s final assault. Deeply researched and rich with detail, Lincoln''s Lady Spymaster is a remarkable true story of courage, ingenuity, and resistance. Gerri Willis pulls back the curtain on one of the most fearless heroes of the Civil War, restoring her to her rightful place as an American icon.

About the author

Gerri Willis is an award-winning journalist, television personality, podcast host, and author. Currently a correspondent and anchor for Fox Business, she was the host of two long-running shows for CNN, and an editor and reporter for SmartMoney, Crain's New York Business, and others. Her journalism earned the prestigious midcareer Knight-Bagehot Fellowship from the Columbia Journalism School. A breast cancer survivor, Gerri received the Susan G. Komen Image Award for her efforts in supporting cancer research. Gerri, her husband David Evans (a fellow Bagehot alumnus), and their poodle puppy, Rufus, divide their time among NY, MA, and SC.  

Product details

• Authors: Anon171, Gerri Willis, Willis Gerri
• Publisher: Harper Collins Usa
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 15.10.2024
• EAN: 9780063333659
• ISBN: 978-0-06-333365-9
• No. of pages: 288
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 23 mm
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; USA, Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, Biography: general, military history, Social & cultural history, HISTORY / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877), HISTORY / Women, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, Social and cultural history, United States of America, USA, Military intelligence, Gender studies: women and girls, True war and combat stories, Biography: historical, political and military, HISTORY: United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877), HISTORY: Women, HISTORY / Military / Intelligence & Espionage, Political activism / Political engagement, HISTORY: Military / Intelligence & Espionage, History / American, History / Civil War