Despite her new husband’s objections, Julia kept as her
slave another Julia, known as Jule. Since childhood they had been companions
and confidantes; Julia was gifted with prophetic dreams, which Jule helped her
interpret. Julia secretly taught Jule to read, while Jule became her
vision-impaired mistress’s eyes to the world. But beneath the gathering clouds
of war, the stark distinctions between mistress and slave inevitably strained
and altered their tenuous friendship.
As Ulysses rose through the ranks of the Union army during
the Civil War, he often summoned Julia and their four children to join him at
military headquarters. The general’s wife rarely failed to bring her favorite
maid along, tearing Jule from her own beloved husband, whom she had secretly married
in defiance of the law. Both women risked certain danger as they traveled to
and from the field of war, but for Jule, the hazards of travel also brought
knowledge and opportunity.
Even as Julia Grant championed the Union cause and advocated
for suffering women on both sides of the brutal conflict, she continued to hold
Jule as a slave behind federal lines—until the signing of the Emancipation
Proclamation inspired Jule to make a daring bid for freedom.Mrs. Grant and
Madame Jule is the first novel to chronicle the singular relationship of
these two remarkable women, bound by light and shadow.
What People Are Saying: “[Chiaverini’s] depiction of the essential decency of some of our nation’s early leaders is a high point.”
-- Booklist"Chiaverini's fans will love this light historical romance."
--Kirkus
“Chiaverini’s eye for detail coupled with an ability to breathe life into her characters ensures an engrossing period piece that does not fail to both entertain and inform.” -- Library Journal
My Review: I found this book every bit as wonderful as the Mrs. Lincoln books. The details were what made it for me. And the characterizations brought Jule and the rest of the characters to life. I enjoyed it immensely and couldn't put it down.
Stay tuned! Friday, I'll be making an exciting announcement!
2 comments:
I"m slacking, I haven't got to reading the other Lincoln book/s yet - does sound like I have to hunt them down!!
I loved the other books - and know that I will also love this one as well. I enjoy tremendously all of Jennifer Chiaverini's books
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