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The Selected Letters of Dolley Payne Madison

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Through her poise, tact, charm, and personal heroism, Dolley Payne Madison has long been one of the most-admired women in the early history of the American Republic. In this exquisite sampling of Dolley's letters, both scholars and general readers alike have great reason to rejoice. For years, the devoted University of Virginia team which lovingly collected and painstakingly edited the papers of James Madison also paid equal attention to his soulmate, Dolley. David B. Mattern (Senior Associate Editor of The Papers of James Madison), and Holly C. Shulman (Research Associate Professor, Studies in Women and Gender at the University of Virginia) have provided the portal through which generations of researchers and writers will pass to meet Dolley. The 442-page book provides not only a well-balanced selection of meticulously edited letters to and from Dolley, but also a series of short, factual essays which frame and give context to each period of her life. In addition, a marvelous 24-page biographical directory provides thumbnail biographies of persons mentioned in her letters. I pre-ordered this book the moment I learned of its intended publication, and it now forms a cornerstone for the research on my forthcoming biography of this amazing First Lady, "Strength and Honor: The Life of Dolley Madison" (Corinthian Books, September 2004). -Richard N. Cote', author of "Mary's World: Love, War, and Family Ties in Nineteenth-century Charleston" and "Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy."