Bibliograph

The spymistress, Jennifer Chiaverini

Type

Label

The spymistress, Jennifer Chiaverini

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 617-620)

resource.biographical

contains biographical information

Index

no index present

Literary Form

fiction

Main title

The spymistress

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

857234441

Responsibility statement

Jennifer Chiaverini

Summary

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's skills in gathering military intelligence were unparalleled. She 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. Although Van Lew was inducted posthumously into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, the astonishing scope of her achievements has never been widely known

Target audience

adult

Classification