First Ladies

First Ladies have always interested me, and I thought this Eyewitness book was a wonderful book on the topic. It has a page or two on every First Lady since Martha Washington-maybe more if the First Lady was extremely popular. Good photographs of the First Ladies themselves, as well as their clothing and possessions, enhance the well-written text. The text not only focuses on the bare facts of each lady's life, but includes interesting facts and "personality sketches." "Eyewitness: First Ladies" taught me about many first ladies that I had never even heard of before, and it is a "must" for anyone interested in the topic.

"How wrong it is for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than to create it herself." -Anais Nin (1903-1977) Being a First Lady is undeniably challenging. Here, you will meet forty-four dynamic women who made their mark on the White House and the nation. In an "eyewitness" format, this guide explores their lives through stunning full-color photographs and brief summaries of their lives. You will soon gain a new respect for women who were willing to give up a simpler and less stressful existence to serve our nation. Find out how Martha Washington risked her life to travel thousands of miles from the comfort and security of her home to visit General Washington at his field headquarters and how she tended to the sick and even helped mend uniforms. See how calmly Dolley Madison handled the looting and burning of Washington and calmly kept her head in a crisis when having to relocate to temporary quarters. Through the ages, you see how the President's wives took more and more responsibilities and encouraged their husband's success. I also enjoyed all the pictures of the trinkets, designer gowns, campaign memorabilia, gifts and jewelry. A visual journey of the evolution of women in America. There is no box made by God nor us But that the sides can be flattened and the top blown off to make a dance floor on which to celebrate life. - Kenneth Caraway ~The Rebecca Review