Currently Reading: The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini

I am reading a wonderful novel for my book club that fits our theme of the Civil War. The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini tells the story of a woman's battle to fight for equality during the Civil War.

From Booklist:

"Chiaverini follows Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker (2013) with the story of the intrepid leader of a Union spy ring, Elizabeth Van Lew. When her beloved Richmond becomes the capitol of the Confederacy, Van Lew uses her social standing, her family fortune, and an appeal to Christian charity to minister to the needs of Union prisoners. Soon she is passing messages to the North and recruiting an ever-growing network of Unionists to help her. She maintains a facade of loyalty—and she is loyal to Virginia, if not the Confederacy—by temporarily housing high-ranking Confederates or hosting a party for her nephew’s brigade. Meanwhile, she feasts on fast days, frees her slaves as far as she legally can, and hollows out eggs to transport messages. There is danger, although Chiaverini does such a good job convincing the reader that Van Lew is just a well-bred Virginia woman that the extent to which she aided Union victory is not entirely clear. Readers of historical and inspirational fiction will admire Van Lew’s courage and commitment to her principles and the bravery of her ring of spies." --Susan Maguire

(www.amazon.com/The-Spymistress-Jennifer-Chiaverini/dp/0525953620)