Other editions of book Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House. An Eyewitness Account of History.

“The life and times of one remarkable woman encompasses Behind the Scenes….Enlightening memoir. Recommended.” -Library Journal Part slave narrative, part memoir, and part sentimental fiction, Behind the Scenes depicts Elizabeth Keckley's years as a slave and subsequent four years in Abraham Lincoln's White House during the Civil War. As public drama privately experienced, Keckley's work presents Jefferson Davis and his wife, Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, and even Stephen Douglas and "Mrs. Senator Douglas" in the foreground, with the war, and slavery as the issue that precipitated it, in the background. Through the eyes of this black woman—an ex-slave, seamstress, and dressmaker—we see a wide range of historical figures and events of the antebellum South, the Washington of the Civil War years, and the final stages of the war. Contents Preface Chapter I. Where I was born Chapter II. Girlhood and its Sorrows Chapter III. How I gained my Freedom Chapter IV. In the Family of Senator Jefferson Davis Chapter V. My Introduction to Mrs. Lincoln Chapter VI. Willie Lincoln's Death-bed Chapter VII. Washington in 1862-3 Chapter VIII. Candid Opinions Chapter IX. Behind the Scenes Chapter X. The Second Inauguration Chapter XI. The Assassination of President Lincoln Chapter XII. Mrs. Lincoln leaves the White House Chapter XIII. The Origin of the Rivalry between Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lincoln Chapter XIV. Old Friends Chapter XV. The Secret History of Mrs. Lincoln's Wardrobe in New York Appendix --Letters from Mrs. Lincoln to Mrs. Keckley

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Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly (1818-1907) was a former slave turned successful seamstress who is most notably known as being Mary Todd Lincoln’s personal modiste and confidante, and the author of her autobiography, Behind the Scenes; or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House (1868). Mrs. Keckly utilized her intelligence, keen business savvy, and sewing and design skills to arrange and ultimately buy her freedom (and that of her son George as well), and later enjoyed regular business with the wives of the government elite as her base clientele. After years of establishment in St. Louis she moved to Washington, DC in the Spring of 1860, where she had the country’s most elite women of the time requesting her services. Of all her clients, she had the closest and most long-standing relationship with Mary Todd Lincoln, devoting many of her days during Abraham Lincoln’s administration to being available to her and the First Family in a myriad of ways. In 1892 she was offered a faculty position at Wilberforce University as head of the Department of Sewing and Domestic Science Arts and moved to Ohio.

Behind the scenes formerly a slave, but more recently modiste, and friend to Mrs. Lincoln, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House is an autobiography of a former slave who obtained her freedom in 1855 at age thirty. The book discusses the reconstruction era. The author describes how being a skillful seamstress led her to become the confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln during the Lincolns' years in the White House.

Behind the Scenes - or, Thirty years a slave, and Four Years in the White House is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Elizabeth Keckley is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of Elizabeth Keckley then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.

PREFACE. I have often been asked to write my life, as those who know me know that it has been an eventful one. At last I have acceded to the importunities of my friends, and have bastily sketched some of tbe striking incidents tbat go to make up my history. My life, so full of romance, may sound like a dream to tbe matter-of-fact reader, nevertheless everything I have written is strictly true ; much has been omitted, but nothing has been exaggerated. In writing as I have done, I am well aware tbat I have invited criticism ; but before the critic judges harshly, let my explanation be carefully read and weighed. If I have portrayed the dark side of slavery, I also have painted the bright side. The good that I have said of human servitude should be thrown into the scales with the evil that I have said of it. I have kind, true-hearted friends in the South as well as in the North, and I would not wound those Southern Table of Contents Preface 11; CHAPTER I Where I was born 17; CHAPTER II Girlhood and its Sorrows 31; CHAPTER III How I gained my Freedom 43; CHAPTER IV In the Family of Senator Jefferson Davis 63; CHAPTER V My Introduction to Mrs Lincoln 76; CHAPTER VI Willie Lincoln's Death-bed 91; CHAPTER VII Washington in 1862-3 111; CHAPTER VIII; FACH; Candid Opinions 127; CHAPTER IX Behind the Scenes139; CHAPTER X The Second Inauguration 156; CHAPTER XI The Assassination of President Lincoln178; CHAPTER XII Mrs Lincoln leaves the White House 201; CHAPTER XIII; The Origin of the Eivalry between Mr Douglas and Mr; Lincoln223; CHAPTER XIV Old Friends 238; CHAPTER XV; The Secret History of Mrs Lincoln's Wardrobe in New York2G7; Appendix-Letters from Mrs Lincoln to Mrs Keckley 832About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgo

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.

I HAVE often been asked to write my life, as those who know me know that it has been an eventful one. At last I have acceded to the importunities of my friends, and have hastily sketched some of the striking incidents that go to make up my history. My life, so full of romance, may sound like a dream to the matter-of-fact reader, nevertheless everything I have written is strictly true; much has been omitted, but nothing has been exaggerated. In writing as I have done, I am well aware that I have invited criticism; but before the critic judges harshly, let my explanation be carefully read and weighed. If I have portrayed the dark side of slavery, I also have painted the bright side. The good that I have said of human servitude should be thrown into the scales with the evil that I have said of it. I have kind, true-hearted friends in the South as well as in the North, and I would not wound those Southern friends by sweeping condemnation, simply because I was once a slave. They were not so much responsible for the curse under which I was born, as the God of nature and the fathers who framed the Constitution for the United States. The law descended to them, and it was but natural that they should recognize it, since it manifestly was their interest to do so. And yet a wrong was inflicted upon me; a cruel custom deprived me of my liberty, and since I was robbed of my dearest right, I would not have been human had I not rebelled against the robbery. God rules the Universe. I was a feeble instrument in His hands, and through me and the enslaved millions of my race, one of the problems was solved that belongs to the great problem of human destiny; and the solution was developed so gradually that there was no great convulsion of the harmonies of natural laws. A solemn truth was thrown to the surface, and what is better still, it was recognized as a truth by those who give force to moral laws. An act may be wrong, but unless the ruling power recognizes the wrong, it is useless to hope for a correction of it. Principles may be right, but they are not established within an hour. The masses are slow to reason, and each principle, to acquire moral force, must come to us from the fire of the crucible; the fire may inflict unjust punishment, but then it purifies and renders stronger the principle, not in itself, but in the eyes of those who arrogate judgment to themselves. When the war of the Revolution established the independence of the American colonies, an evil was perpetuated, slavery was more firmly established; and since the evil had been planted, it must pass through certain stages before it could be eradicated. In fact, we give but little thought to the plant of evil until it grows to such monstrous proportions that it overshadows important interests; then the efforts to destroy it become earnest. As one of the victims of slavery I drank of the bitter water; but then, since destiny willed it so, and since I aided in bringing a solemn truth to the surface as a truth, perhaps I have no right to complain. Here, as in all things pertaining to life, I can afford to be charitable.

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