Washington's Lady (Ladies of History Series #3) (Paperback)

by Nancy Moser (Author)
Key Phrases: Mount Vernon, White House, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Popular historical novelist Moser (Mozart's Sister; Just Jane) turns to Martha Custis Washington in an uncharacteristically slow, unimaginative tale. Moser opens with the death of Martha's first husband and her subsequent marriage to George. When the Revolution commences, Martha is forced to flee Mount Vernon, and Loyalist newspapers claim that she has abandoned the Patriot cause. Moser, who cut her literary teeth on Christian fiction, depicts religious faith throughout: we see Martha attending church, offering up the occasional prayer, devotedly loving her husband and caring for her children. The description of the death of her daughter, Patsy, is especially moving. The novel focuses on the Washingtons' early marriage and experiences during the war. After the Revolution ends, Moser briefly describes George's election as president, and then fast-forwards 11 years to his death. Unfortunately, the novel lacks a real plot; there is no central conflict that demands resolution. The historical details—such as Lafayette's joining the family as another son—are accurate enough, but Moser never fully plunges readers into an earlier world. (June)
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Review
"...the slice of Martha Washington's life that Moser offers in this engaging novel ... provide a good inspirational historical read." -- Cindy Crosby, FaithfulReader.com

"Inventive. Intriguing. Tasteful. Unforgettable. This book was all those things and more.... I cannot recommend this book highly enough." -- Carrie Brownell, 5MinutesforMom.com

"Told with the appeal of first person, don't miss this intimate book of history." -- Deborah Tompkins Johnson, Potomac News/Manassas Journal Messenger

"Historical fiction does not get any better than this and that is why Washington's Lady is highly recommended." -- Debora Hosey, TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

"I truly enjoyed my brief sojourn with Moser's warm and human Martha." -- Violet Nesdoly, BlogCritics.org

"Moser's research, powerful dialogue and flawless creativity give readers a heart-wrenching first-person account..." -- Romantic Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764205005
• ISBN-13: 978-0764205002
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,572 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Biographical Novel, June 2, 2008

By	Jennifer AlLee (Nevada USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you've ever suffered through a junior high American History class, you probably think you know all you'll ever need to know about the forming of our country. If only history class had been as captivating and enthralling as this novel!

In Washington's Lady, Nancy Moser shines a light on the reluctant First Lady of America. Her life was plagued with heartbreak and the deaths of many that she loved. Yet she also experienced great joy with the love of her life and soul mate, George. She was a woman off contradictions, having great strength during adversity, but fearful of the specter of death that loomed over her life. She showed grace and affection to the soldiers under her husband's command, but she was loathe to become a public figure. Martha Washington was a unique woman, flaws and all.

History truly comes alive in Moser's capable hands. I learned so much reading this story, not just about Martha, but about George and the struggles to form our country. And I enjoyed it immensely. At the end of the book, Moser includes a section titled Fact or Fiction in Washington's Lady. It's another glimpse at the care and diligence taken in presenting the fascinating tale of an extraordinary woman and the family and country she loved.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong look at the first First Lady, June 1, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

When her beloved Daniel died as well as two of their children, wealthy widow Martha Dandridge Custis vowed death would never mock her again. However, being affluent and young, many want to court her; none interest her. That is until she meets the French and Indian War Colonel George Washington, a shy warrior. She knows she has met her soulmate.

They marry and live in his Mount Vernon home. However, their life together is interrupted by war as George now a general leads the rebel forces against the mightiest army in the world; a side he once belong to. There are several years of separation and worry as Martha tries to hold the family together while George is at war. When they reunite, their love is stronger and helps them several years later when she becomes the first First Lady; but death will return to mock her once again.

As she has done with Jane Austen (see JUST JANE) and Nannerl Mozart (see MOZART'S SISTER), Nancy Moser provides a strong look at the first First Lady, who Washington insisted was "my other self". Readers will see how deaths of loved ones shaped her adult life and helped her as the "mother of our country". Biographical fiction fans and historical novel readers will appreciate this superb glimpse of WASHINGTON'S LADY, Martha.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learn about Our Nation's First, First Lady!, January 13, 2009

By	Elizabeth Darcy (Wilmington , NC USA) - See all my reviews

I consider myself a fan of Nancy Moser, now having read and own three of her books. The first two were Mozart's Sister and Just Jane (Ladies of History Series #2). This third book of hers did not disappoint.

If you are unfamiliar with her work, Nancy Moser takes a historical figure, like Martha Washington, and instead of writing a biography of her (which has already been done) she instead writes about her life in the form of a novel. A novel that has a lot of truth in it, in fact she finds as much true evidence as she can to include in her books and only adds or recreates when necessary. In most cases it is hard to find enough documentation to piece together a person's whole life and it doesn't help that Martha Washington burned all the correspondence she had with George. But I applaud her efforts in tackling the challenge and commend her on a job well done. I immensely enjoyed learning about Martha Washington, George Washington, and their life before, during, and after the American Revolution. I have come to admire Martha and George; and I feel that I understand them and their lives so much more after reading this book. At the end of the book Nancy Moser, includes a section where she explains to the readers what was factual about her book and what she recreated. She goes into the thorough detail and I appreciate her honesty.

The only complaint I have with the book (and this is the reason I am not giving it 5 stars) is that the ending came too abruptly. We traveled with Martha and George through the first years of their marriage, the start of the Revolutionary War, the end of the Revolutionary, George Washington being elected President, and then the last chapter says "10 years later" under it. I was disappointed the author left out all of the years where George was out first president. I don't know if she thought it would make the book to long, but I wouldn't have minded! I think the Presidency was something very important in both their lives, and not something to be summarized in a few paragraphs. Especially when she was so thorough in the years 1775-1788, it seems wrong to not continue to be thorough in the years 1789-1799. It feels inconsistent.

Overall, if you enjoy learning about history, but you aren't a fan of reading biographies, you will enjoy this book, I call it a "bio-novel."

I look forward to Nancy Moser's next release about Elizabeth Barrett Browning How Do I Love Thee?.