Lois Leveen

I was very impressed with how deftly Leveen told the story of Mary Bowser and Bet Van Lew, given just how little is known about them, particularly Mary. I love history, and I especially love the history of people, things, and events that tend to be marginalized in traditional school classrooms. I had never knew of either of these two women's existence, and I wish they were at least mentioned in my school textbooks because they are amazing.

Leveen focuses on Mary Bowser, who was born a slave to the Van Lew family in Richmond, and is freed by Bet Van Lew following Bet's father's death. Bet sends Mary to be educated in Philadelphia. On the advent of the Civil War, Mary returns to Richmond and takes up spying for the Union, and even secures a position as a house slave in the home of Jefferson Davis.

Leveen does take some artistic license with history, giving Mary a much larger role in the plotting and planning than most historians are wont to do. I found the entire book fascinating, and loved Mary's slow initiation into the abolitionist world, starting at sewing circles to eventually something more dangerous and drastic.

Hopefully this book will inspire more people to learn about the incredible role Mary and Bet played in the Civil War.… (more)