Publisher's Synopsis
In her memoir, Elizabeth Keckley (1818-1907) takes us behind the scenes of her amazing story, set against some of the most dramatic elements of American history. Following the arc of Keckley's life, which began in slavery and saw her become dressmaker to the First Lady, her book's unique vantage point illustrates the country's violent transition from the slave era to emancipation. Born a slave in Dinwiddie, Virginia, Keckley describes the cruelties that tortured her body but failed to break her spirit. Sent with her master's family to Missouri, she became a skilled dressmaker whose designs were in high demand. In 1855, with loans from her clientele, Keckley secured freedom for herself and her son. By 1860, she had her own business in Washington, D.C. After Mrs. Lincoln wore Keckley's "rose-colored moire-antique" dress to the inauguration, Keckley became the First Lady's "modiste" (maker of fashionable dresses and hats). Keckley had a ra
