Courting Mr Lincoln by Louis Bayard

I reread Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard in conjunction with its paperback edition blog tour.

On this second reading, I again was again impressed by Bayard's handing of Mary Todd. I love her outspokenness, her willingness to stand up to convention and assert herself. She has a stubborn streak, and yet is vulnerable.

"There had to be, in her soul, there lay some rebel contingent."~from Courting Mr. Lincoln

Mary has come to Springfield to live with a married sister. She is escaping an unhappy relationship with a stepmother but it is also intended that she find a husband, being twenty-one and on the threshold of spinsterhood. She can not settle for the available men hoisted upon her as suitable. Lincoln is unsuitable, but Mary sees his gentleness and kindness and relishes their political talk. She grew up on politics in her home.

Mary Todd Lincoln

"The man how wishes to woo me will send neither flowers nor chocolates but elections returns."~from Courting Mr. Lincoln

Lincoln describes her, and himself, as broken birds, people who have suffered and carry the scars from childhood.

"But those are the ones that turn out the toughest, arent' they? The broken ones." ~from Courting Mr. Lincoln

Courting Mr. Lincoln with Mary Todd Lincoln on
my quilt Remember the Ladies

Lincoln is self-effacing, acutely aware of his shortcomings in social status and origin, his bleak prospects as an itinerant lawyer. He does not want to drag Mary down to his level.

Abraham Lincoln c. 1946

"El Greco frame stretched beyond sufferance. A mournful well of eye. A face of bones, all badgering to break through.~from Courting Mr. Lincoln

Joshua Fry Speed

Joshua Speed, Lincoln's lifelong intimate friend and soulmate, jealously watches his friend's courtship of Mary. They had pledged to avoid marriage, remaining eternal bachelors. Bayard's Speed educated Lincoln in matters of social niceties, from apparel to dancing. Lincoln is described as brilliant but rustic to a fault.

The novel is well-grounded on historical events, from Mary's idea of making a pathway to walk into town by tossing shingles ahead to Lincoln's deep depression and indecision that caused him to leave Mary and Springfield.

Bayard wisely skirts detailing the nature of Speed and Lincoln's intimacy in sexual matters. One can read between the lines as one wishes.

Bayard's writing is wonderful, I love his descriptions and language. He brings these characters to life.

I was given a free ebook by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Courting Mr. Lincoln with my Presidents Quilt

Courting Mr. Lincoln
by Louis Bayard
Algonquin Books
February 11, 2020
ISBN-10: 1643750445
ISBN-13: 978-1643750446