Behind the Scenes: Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the Lincoln White House

From slavery to the White House

In her riveting 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 eventful 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 cru...