The Spymistress

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini is back with another enthralling historical novel inspired by the life of 'a true union woman as true as steel.' Born to slave-holding aristocracy in Richmond, Virginia, and educated by Northern Quakers, Elizabeth Van Lew was a paradox of her time. When her native state seceded in April 1861, Van Lew's convictions compelled her to defy the new Confederate regime. Pledging her loyalty to the Lincoln White House, her courage would never waver, even as her wartime actions threatened not only her reputation, but also her life. Van Lew helped to construct the Richmond Underground and orchestrated escapes from the infamous Confederate Libby Prison under the guise of humanitarian aid. Her spy ring's reach was vast, from clerks in the Confederate War and Navy Departments to the very home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In Chiaverini's riveting tale of high-stakes espionage, a great heroine of the Civil War finally gets her due. Praise for The Spymistress A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Best Book of the Year 'Jennifer Chiaverini's latest bestseller will thrill Civil War buffs and anyone who loves reading about American history and the contribution of women to the momentous events that formed this country.' Bookreporter.com 'Daring and dangerous . . . Based on the real Van Lew's exploits . . . Like the Jane Austen heroines she admired, she used both the courtesies afforded her and the limits placed on her as a woman to get things done.' Milwaukee Journal Sentinel