About:
The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen is a historical fiction novel taking place before and during the American Civil War. Very little is known about Mary Bowser, a free slave who went back into Virginia to spy for the Union.
The publisher is giving away one copy of this book— use the form at the end of the post to enter.
My rating for The Secrets of Mary Bowser – 5
Thoughts:
The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen (Website | Twitter | Facebook) is an interesting book about an interesting time. There is very little known about Mary Bowser, a free slave who went back to spy for the Union at Jefferson Davis’ house during the Civil War.
Very little is known about Mary Bowser (even though her name as a spy was Ellen Bond, which didn’t make it into this book), so there are many liberties taken with the character. This could be good or bad and could easily backfire at the author, however I think this time it worked and the author does a fine job not only with the characterization, but also describing the daily lives of free blacks during the era.
The first half of the book takes place before the war starts, the second half, where Bowser goes to work for Varina Davis, wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, is fascinating. The other historical characters in the book, such as Elizabeth Van Lew, an ardent abolitionist and Bowser’s former owner who freed her, are also well written and interesting.
Picture thought to be of Mary Bowser
Despite the era and material, I didn’t find the story too dark even though there are elements of violence. Ms. Leveen wrote her main characters as uplifting individuals, living hard lives during hard times.
It is difficult to write historical fiction novels, as there are many people (myself included) who will nitpick to no end, however, I do understand that historical fiction is a subgenre of fiction, not history. I would certainly suggest reading the excellent material in the back of the book where Ms. Leveen makes clear what is historically accurate, what is fictional and some more background.
Update 21 June, 2012:
Lois Leveen’s article in the New York Times about Mary Bowser is published: A Black Spy in the Confederate White House
So tell me, do you like to read the author’s note before reading the book?
Synopsis:
Based on a true story, Mary has been a slave to the Van Lew family in Richmond, VA. Bet Van Lew, the daughter and abolitionist, frees Mary and sends her to school in Philadelphia.
When a war seems imminent, Mary returns to Virginia, defying the law, to care for her ailing father. Posing as a slave in the Confederate White House, Mary puts her photographic memory to good use.
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Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free from TLC Book Tours
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This sounds like a really interesting book. Even though there isn't a lot of information available about Mary Bowser, I think it's fantastic the author wrote about the heroic and inspiring things Mary did during the war. Bringing attention to Mary and her actions is a terrific tribute to an amazing woman. I look forward to reading this book at some point.
Thank you for hosting this giveaway!
Thanks for taking the time to review THE SECRETS OF MARY BOWSER and host a giveaway. I appreciate your comments about the line I've chosen to walk in writing historical fiction. I'm trained as a researcher, and I'm always as careful as I can be to avoid anachronisms and weave the facts into an engaging story. As for "Ellen Bond," although the claim that Bowser used the name Ellen Bond--and that she set fire to the Confederate White House--is frequently repeated, I've never found any well-cited source suggesting this is true. Bowser did use pseudonyms at various points, but there's no documentation that Ellen Bond was one of them.
The New York Times will be running a piece soon that I've written about some of Bowser's pseudonyms, and about why so little is known about her. It involves new research, including a diary entry and a letter documenting Bowser's postwar meeting with Harriet Beecher Stowe. If you're interested, I can post a link here when it goes live on the New York Times website . . . sounds like you're a history geek like me and will want to know more.
Thanks for the comment Ms. Leveen, I am absolutely a history geek :)
Also, thanks for the clarification on Ellen Bond, if you couldn't find any well cited sources I have to say you made the right call (I just think it's a great pseudonym for a Civil War spy - Bond, Ellen Bond.
Congratulations on a wonderful book and am looking forward to the NYT piece.
Hi! My email is twobeardbooks@gmail.com and I just started a book blog at http://twobeardbooks.com/. Thanks!
Good luck with your blog Taylor
Hi there- I tried to join the Facebook group about book giveaways but I'm not sure how to do so? Thanks!
Hi Taylor, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/197323436972437/ and join up
contact @: jemjewelsjade98@gmail.com
Thanks for the giveaway - I love historical fiction!
Personally, I don't mind a few liberties taken with my historical fiction. As long as the surrounding setting is in sync with the historical record (no anachronisms or blatant historical falsehoods), I'm generally OK with it. I mean, if we wanted to read unembellished history, we'd read a history book, right?
The Secrets of Mary Bowser sounds like a fascinating book. Thanks for sharing it with us!
I don't mind a few liberties either, it's when the timeline doesn't work that drives me nuts.
Interesting book and review. I've never heard of her. ;) Thanks for the giveaway, Zohar.
Thanks for the comment C.E. - I believe this is Ms. Leveen's first book (I think).
I love how many historical books you choose to read and review. I've always been interested in that era, and find it so funny that I was just checking this book out on Kobo this morning, and I open my email to find out that you're having a giveaway for it.
I always choose to read the author's note, because I think it gives us great insight into the mind frame in which the author chose to write his/her narrative and characters. I think it also allows us to find out more about the origins of the story and its characters.
Personally, I don't mind a few liberties being taken, in terms of historical facts, as long as the author makes sure to state it, and also, if it is a FICTION novel. Most historical fiction novels embellish the truth just a little bit, in order to aid the story being told.
This sounds like a FANTASTIC book, and I'd love for a chance to read it! :)
Name: Hira Hasnain
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the great comment Hira. I also read the author's note first, it helps me know what to expect and what to keep in mind.
my email is meiklesurvey@gmail.com