Customer Reviews

Love Is Eternal

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All my life I believed that Mary Todd Lincoln was a mean-spirited woman who undermined her husband's successes and caused him unbearable grief in their marriage. Now, after having read this truly remarkable story of their rocky marriage, I realize that a lot of their problems were caused by Abraham Lincoln's moodiness and hypochondria. Mary longed for a more glamorous life which would have placed them in "high society." Her husband desired no such station in life and this novel does well in exposing their faults and virtues, as individuals and as a couple, and as the title implies, shows that both worked hard constantly to make their marriage successful. It is a great story of love, devotion, misery, grief, and its historical setting is the turbulent years leading up to, and including the Civil War.

I read and re-read this classic. Through Irving Stone's elaborate descriptive words, I feel, see and live what Mary Todd "Molly" did. I can smell the oranges, feel the velvet dress, and experience the political turmoil of the times prior to and during the Civil War. I don't even consider this book fiction. I am a romantic at heart, and she showed true devotion and undying love for Honest Abe. She taught me traits to look for in a man, and what to overlook. I am grateful to my father for giving me this book before he passed away.

I first read this book when I was in high school and I've never forgotten it. It's a realistic and sympathetic portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln, a woman who suffered greatly through no real fault of her own.

This book provides insight into the tender moments Abraham Lincoln had with his wife Mary. Mary Lincoln does not come across as a shrew or a nag but as a loving wife that from time to time yielded to frustration and had to bear the personnal loss of two sons. Each time, Abraham seemed to know when to comfort her or when to leave matters unsaid.

I can't believe I'm the first person to review this terrific book. Maybe historical fiction is beneath contempt these days, but for a fledgling Lincoln scholar, such as I was when I got this book, there is no better place to start. Irving Stone, a wonderful writer ("The Agony and the Ecstasy", "Lust for Life", to mention a few), does a masterful job here capturing not only the endlessly fascinating Lincoln, but also the much-maligned and misunderstood Mary Todd. His research is impeccable, and here you will find word-for-word some of Lincoln's best stories, yarns, and letter excerpts, as well as his famously poetic speeches. Told from the viewpoint of Mary Todd, who in her own right was a brilliant and politically astute woman, the poignant love story between these two historical figures is just heartrending. Stone humanizes the mythological Lincoln by cleverly letting the reader view him through the loving eyes of his wife, and we are carried through their incredible journey from Springfield to the White House and the terrible Civil War right up to the tragic end.

I highly recommend this book to any Lincoln lover, and lover of good writing.

I first read this book about Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln when I was in the 8th grade. I read and re-read it many times more while in school and after graduating started looking for a copy I could purchase and keep. Thank you Amazon, for finding these hard-to-find books. This one is right up there with Gone With The Wind and Little Women in my list of favorites.

Imagine stepping inside the mind of Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. You will be able to meet the Abraham before he becomes President, witness the fun times as well as the very tragic times of Mary's life. Being able to see the incredible hardships of this family raises your awareness of not only what the times were like, but of the life of the most popular President in American history.

i have known of this work for many years...it is excellent in every regard from historical content to presentation of personal vulnerability and the overuling of Divine providence. It was purchased as a gift and the recipient has assured me that she has enjoyed it extremely.

I have not read the book in its entirety just yet I have read the first 5 sections in the book and I have found them somewhat tedious. The book is filled with diverse topics which only a few have been able to stimulate my interests.