Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House
by Elizabeth Keckley
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A former slave's intimate memoir of the Lincoln White House, a timeless addition to the canons of African American and Civil War literatureOriginally published in 1868-when it was attacked as an "indecent book" authored by a "traitorous eavesdropper"-Behind the Scenes is the story of Elizabeth Keckley, who began her life as a slave and became a privileged witness to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Keckley bought her freedom at the age of thirty-seven and set up a successful dressmaking business in Washington, D.C. She became modiste to Mary Todd Lincoln and in time her friend and confidante, a relationship that continued after Lincoln's assassination. In documenting that friendship-often using the First Lady's own letters-Behind the Scenes fuses the slave narrative with the political memoir. It remains extraordinary for its poignancy, candor, and historical perspective.First time in Penguin Classics
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Showing 9 featured editions. View all 47 editions?
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1
Behind the scenes in the Lincoln White House: memoirs of an African-American seamstress
2010, Feather Trail Press
in English
1451503970 9781451503975
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Behind the scenes: thirty years a slave, and four years in the White House
2009, Flying Chipmunk Pub.
in English
1604598085 9781604598087
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Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House
2005, Penguin Books
in English
0143039245 9780143039242
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Behind the scenes; thirty years a slave and four years in the White House.
1968, Arno Press
in English
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Behind the scenes: or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House.
1931, Stansil and Lee
in English
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Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House
1868, G.W. Carleton & Co.
Electronic resource
in English
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Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House
1868, G.W. Carleton & Co.
in English
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Book Details
Edition Notes
Includes bibliographical references (p. [xxii]-xxiv).
Originally published: New York : G.W. Carleton & Co., 1868.
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