Reviews for Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities

Two Thumbs Up!, February 18, 2006

Reviewer:Marilyn Goldberg (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

GARFIELD'S TRAIN is the wonderful story of the Dunbar family, who lived in Long Branch, New Jersey during the time when Long Branch was the town where many wealthy and famous people summered. The late nineteenth century is the setting for this family history and story within that story of the lifelong friendship between two extraordinary women of the time.

The Dunbar family history and story of this friendship is told to us by Kate, the granddaughter of the now elderly Louise Dunbar, as she accompanies her grandmother in 1947 on a train trip to visit her dying friend, Mollie Brown. During the train ride back, Louise reveals to Kate that Mollie is actually the daughter of President James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, who was shot three months after entering office and died three months later. Louise tells Kate the story of her fascinating friendship with Mollie through the years, as well as about her own upbringing in Long Branch when it was in its heyday. She has wonderful stories to tell about the famous people vacationing there that she and her family knew personally. The tales she tells weave their course through the historical events taking place both before Garfield's nomination and after his election, through the attempted assassination, and Garfield's final three months in Long Branch, where he was brought to die. In their telling, we become acquainted with the entire Garfield family, and other notable people of that time, such as General Grant, Roscoe Conkling, General Sherman, James G. Blaine, General Sherman, and Susan B. Anthony. We learn quite a bit about the actual lives of the historical individuals. Ms. Foster's careful attention to details and wonderful way with words vividly brings to life the people and sights and sounds of this time and place in America's history.

I really enjoyed reading GARFIELD'S TRAIN! It is one of those hard-to-find books that is both educational AND a delight to read. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading juicy stories about family relationships and friendships and also would not mind learning about some generally not well-known events in American history!

History Through The Eyes of Women History Forgot, March 17, 2006

Reviewer:Joyce Faulkner (Pittsburgh, PA USA) See all my reviews.

When I picked up Feather Schwartz Foster's book, "Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities," I'm not sure what I was expecting. Short essays about some of the First Ladies -- woo, hoo. These women aren't "has beens" or even "almost has beens" -- they are the consorts of has beens. Who remembers Lou Hoover or Sarah Polk? How about Julia Tyler? Some of these names are so obscure as to have dropped completely out of public awareness. How interesting could they be?

Boy was I wrong!

First off, the book itself is creatively constructed -- each lady is given a chance to tell her story while the others comment. It's like a big hen party where the ladies mingle. I imagine them sipping Earl Grey and eating snickerdoodles in homey companionability. This approach makes even the dullest of the presidential wives amusing. We see them through their own eyes within the context of their own historical time -- but we also see them through the personalities, mores and historical perspectives of other First Ladies.

For example, Mary Lincoln, Jacqueline Kennedy and Pat Nixon's snotty remarks about Andrew Johnson's obnoxious behavior at his inaugeration are in sharp contrast to Eliza Johnson's insistence that her Andy wasn't a drunk. The technique demonstrates how blind we are to the failings of our loved ones -- and how quick we notice the faults of others. It allows characters long lost in the fog of time to become human again.

I have to say that I loved this book from the first page, but when the various ladies began to chime in with their own reminiscences, catty remarks, sympathies and empathies, I found myself reading -- and rereading, certain passages with new respect for the impossible circumstances these women found themselves in simply because they were married to presidents.

Clever, informative and amusing, "Ladies" is well worth the read.

Delightful compilation, January 17, 2005

Reviewer: E. Dian Moore "Hands for Hope" (Moundsville, WV USA) - See all my reviews

"Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities" is a book filled with the voices of America's First Ladies. From Martha Washington to Mamie Eisehnhower, these vibrant, lively women speak from the past as modern day First Ladies comment from the sidelines.

The "moderns," as Lucy Hayes comments, already had their say.

Author Feather Schwartz Foster brings to life these fascinating women through dedicated chapters, written in the form of a letter from each Lady. Customs, houseguests, dinner, chores - no part of a woman's life is ignored.

Though this is a work of fiction, it is very much based on facts and filled with vivid details taken from over a thousand presidential history books. Readers will be lost in the past and feel as though they have seen a glimpse of each personality portrayed.

This book is unique in more ways than one. Comments from the "moderns" are interspersed throughout as they speak to one another as well as to the letter writers. They argue, compliment, agree and turn up their noses.

Particularly poignant is Mary Todd Lincoln's chapter in which the wives of other assassinated presidents speak with sympathy and empathy, while other wives in turn speak ill of her appearance and state of mind, even going so far as to malign her beloved son.

The wives of our presidents, both past and present, inherited by marriage a position of influence. From slaves to maids, to leaders of other countries, diplomats and friends, the influence of a First Lady can be measured only by the legacy she leaves.

"Ladies" will absorb the reader's attention from the first page to the last.

Wise, naïve, elegant, crass, refined and catty; all personalities are represented in this unique ode to the women who stood by America's presidents.

Feather Schwartz Foster's first foray into historical fiction is a stand-up clapping success. She is an accomplished song writer and has three decades of experience in advertising and public relations. Numerous links to her upcoming appearances and speaking engagements are listed, as well as links to interviews with Foster about "Ladies" [...]

If they only knew..., September 12, 2005

Reviewer: Janet Elaine Smith "Author of newly released Dakota Printer" (ND, USA) - See all my reviews Feather Schwartz Foster, in her book Ladies: A conjecture of Personalities, has done exquisite research on the First Ladies of the past. It is a wonderfully unique idea to weave the lives, similarities and differences of this part of our history through each others experiences.

One can only ponder some of the ideas she presupposes. Having done a lot of research myself on many of the First Ladies, her "fiction" rings true-to-life. I was fortunate enough to spend one afternoon and evening with Ike and Mamie Eisenhower. Her description of Mamie and her eclectic tastes took me back to that memorable day in my own life.

Whether you are a history buff or not, this is a great read to tweak your curiosity.

Funny, informative, accurate, and poignant, November 7, 2004

Reviewer: Nina M. Osier (Sidney, ME USA) - See all my reviews "Julia Tyler, Frances Cleveland and Edith Wilson are the only 'Ladies' who married 'Presidents.' The rest of us-moderns included-married men. Just plain men. And probably at a time when the Presidency wasn't even a glimmer. Don't forget that!" Author Feather Schwartz Foster puts these words into the mouth of a character as she closes the introduction to this lively work of historical fiction. From Martha Washington's time through that of Mamie Eisenhower, the First Ladies of the United States of America lived in a society that limited their roles and did its best to stifle their voices. This book aims to give the First Ladies of the pre-women's liberation U.S. back those voices at last. Which, since these Ladies are all long dead, requires conjecture!

Even though this is indeed a work of fiction, and a very entertaining one (I chuckled often as I read it), it's important to approach it without imposing what a colleague of mine calls "presentism" on the Ladies whose words fill its chapters. "We must be judged according to the standards of our times-not your times!" insists Lucy Hayes, who has supposedly teamed with Caroline Harrison to sign the rest of the Ladies onto the project. Fictional or not, in this sentiment she is absolutely right.

The author has researched each of her characters thoroughly, and she demonstrates a solid grasp of the historical context of each Lady's life. Using "commentary boxes" to allow comments from other Ladies, including those whose stories aren't told because they came after Mrs. Eisenhower, she gives each chapter the intimate feel of a conversation among a few...I was going to say, "A few close friends." But that's not true, because often the commentary boxes contain pithy remarks that are decidedly not made by one friend about another! Yet the commentaries are always basically sympathetic, because they're offered with total understanding by the "on stage" Lady's peers.

This one hit all the right buttons for me. It's funny, informative, accurate, and poignant, as well as unfailingly respectful of its subjects. Highly recommended!

Foster Speaks Across Years, August 24, 2004

Reviewer: Norman Goldman "Editor of Bookpleasures.com" (Montreal) - See all my reviews

Although first time author Feather Schwartz Foster's book Ladies A Conjecture of Personalities may be classified as historical fiction, we know from the beginning that we are in for some very fascinating tidbits of information, many based on conjecture others perhaps containing a sliver of truth.

Speaking across the years, Foster brings to life brief memoirs of thirty "First Ladies," who unlike their modern successors as Jacqueline Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush, are little known to the world. However, the moderns, as First Lady Lucy Hayes has called them as differentiated from the "non-entities", are included in commentary "and they have many comments to make."

Considerable credit is to be given to Foster in cleverly intertwining fact with fiction and ingeniously interweaving it into conversations among personalities from former and present times.

As one of many examples, readers are informed that very often little is known about some of these First Ladies, such as Margaret Smith Taylor (1849-1850). Who was this first lady, what did she look like, who was her husband, and what were her political views?

Apparently, we are told that she was married to Zachary Taylor, and in the words of this first lady according to Foster, she would have spoken the following words: "nother one of those presidents nobody remembers or cares about. Good. That's the way I like it. I din't want him to be president; I din't want to be First Lady; I din't want to live in Washin'ton."

The author's whimsical collages of her characters are bold and effective in reconnecting the past. Her First Ladies come alive even though the truth may at times been a trifle stretched. But who cares, as the book was never intended to be a scholarly dissertation but rather, as the author states in her epilogue, "a work of fiction-pure conjecture."

It is however, based on historical fact, and Foster's profound knowledge is attestation to her many years as a hobbyist of presidential history.

Foster definitely has the compassion and intellectual curiosity of a good writer and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com

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Fabulous, July 2, 2004

Reviewer:

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities is such a pleasure to read and there is so much in it that is revealing, interesting, and enjoyable. The author has brought up points that make one rethink our history. I reccommend it to anyone and everyone who is at all fascinated with our country's past and why we are the way we are.

Unique & Imaginative, June 29, 2004

Reviewer: Lori Paris "author and book lover" (California) - See all my reviews

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities is witty, wise, and wonderful. This book, part fact, part fiction, takes us into the heart and soul of some very important women that most of us don't know very well. The thirty First Ladies, who are referred to as the "more obscure", are introduced in chronological order, starting with Martha Washington. The author, Feather Schwartz Foster, takes us on a history tour of these fascinating women married to men who at one time held the title of President of the United States.

What is so very clever about this book, are the dialogue boxes. Each chapter focuses on one First Lady, written from her perspective according to her day and age. Throughout each chapter are dialogue boxes filled with comments, facts, musings, and opinions from other First Ladies. The result is a fun and informative way to learn more about the women who lived in the White House over a period of 138 years. I've always thought of history as dry and dull. This book however, makes it fun and fascinating. After reading it, I had a much better appreciation for all of the former First Ladies, as well as a strong admiration for Foster, who provides us with a glimpse into the past in the most unique and imaginative way.

"A most entertaining lesson in history" - February 26, 2005

Denise Fleischer, gottawritenetwork.com

Feather Schwartz Foster has created a unique presentation of the First Ladies. This most entertaining lesson in history comes in the form of personal perspectives of the women Feather has selected. Their voices were often silent, even in their own time period, because men did not care for “intellectual women,” as Abigail Smith Adams points out in the book.

These personal reflections, based on fact, but in fictional dialogue, reveal their discomfort in representing the new nation because their actions represented the Country. They had to present themselves in a manner where they would be highly respected by their peers.

We learn from Feather that the Presidents and their wives seldom enjoyed privacy because they were expected to entertain. Many of the wives were lonely while their husbands were in Philadelphia being entertained by wealthy families. Their husbands often debated how the Country should develop: Strong vs. weak central government and industry’s role in the future.

The First Ladies participating speak of their friendships and regrets by adding additional comments within each chapter. The separation of 100 years means nothing because they share common experiences. They share the soul deep pain of losing many children. Of living during times of war. Often having to protect the young nation’s greatest treasures from the hands of the enemy. Of courage, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe walked right into Madame deLafayette’s cell offering her support. We learn of lies, rumors and gossip, the truth behind Mary Todd Lincoln’s unusual behavior. How people said she was harboring traitors in the White House.

Then there are the accomplishments. It was Julia Tyler’s call for an annual pension for wives of ex-presidents that kept them out of poverty. Julia Dent Grant’s memoirs of her life: her time spent with her husband in the field and throughout the rest of their lives.

Their dreams often extinguished by their fathers and society. Helen Herron Taft wanted to study law. Unfortunately, her father didn’t think she could earn a living or marry. Instead she studies music and settles for a career as a music teacher. And Florence Kling DeWolfe Harding’s understanding why her husband had affairs, but heartache knowing who the other woman was.

LADIES must have been a long researched project and deserves every woman’s attention. It is a history lesson that history neglected to tell. It is certainly worth your time and would be a great gift.

"A vicarious journey through the halls of America's historical fame" - September 31, 2003

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal

Lucy Hayes, the fifteenth First Lady of the United States or the wife of President Rutherford Hayes, has decided to gift the older "nonentities" of the First Ladies by giving them the opportunity (albeit fictional) to comment on their roles according to the standard of their times, not our times. Many of these notable women were friends, enemies, and somewhere in between the two extremes. But all know the history of their time, all have the ability to express their true opinions, and all have the ability to respond to the historical record - whether realistic or revisionary interpretation.

And so, beginning with the self-described "willful" Martha Dandridge Custis Washington and ending with the innocent but victimized (by rumors) Mamie Doud Eisenhower, these ladies tell the reader what it was like to be political wives who were expected to be nonpolitical, beautiful, and an asset to the social and usually religious norms of each particular historical period. Entwined around their comments are those of our modern First Ladies, ranging with honest appraisal, disagreement, and sometimes downright cattiness. Many loved basking in their husband's glory and many deplored every second they had to spend in a Washington capital that was far from the clean, noble city and political hothouse that we now know in America. Far too many suffer grievously over the loss of one or more children, dead in their medically limited and pestilence-ridden society that wiped out multiple generations of the less-than-hardy.

They laugh, weep, worry, delight in, and even deplore the world of politics; indeed they pour their minds and hearts onto these pages, some repetitively mundane and others relishing the newly found power and influence their closeness to the President automatically implied. While there is nothing overly astonishing within these pages, they do open to the common reader a world apart from the politically correct memoirs that have become expected in our lives. This collection is a novel addition to America's history, one that contemporary First Ladies and common citizens might contemplate for the honesty, truth, and wisdom shared by these indomitable women who shared the forging of this great nation. An interesting and unique set of memories, these ladies' conjectures fuel the reader's curiosity and desire into a vicarious journey through the halls of America's historical fame.

Interestingly and uniquely presented, Ms. Foster.

"A Great Enjoyment!"

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities

Reviewed by Lynda Ochsner

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities, by Feather Schwartz Foster, is an interesting, educational and entertaining book. Not exactly historical fiction, it blends biography with some speculation, through short “autobiographies” from each of the pre-modern First Ladies.

Each First Lady, from Martha Washington through Mamie Eisenhower, “contributes” their story, for fairly short and readable segments. As such, the book can be read out-of-sequence, if you just want to skip around and read different short stories. Yet as a whole, the stories build a more complete history of life among Presidents and their wives for nearly two hundred years. We learn about 18th century etiquette, the excitement of the early years of the country, and the subsequent aging of the White House building, in bad need of repairs by the late 19th century.

Adding to the enjoyment, each story includes boxed comments, skillfully placed on each page -- off to the side or in the middle between paragraphs of the main page – in which the other First Ladies add their commentary. The “modern” ones, Jackie Eisenhower through Hillary Clinton, sometimes add their comments here as well, and all comments contribute to the overall material; the earlier First Ladies relate a particular story to themselves and their knowledge, and the later ones add modern insight, what history now says.

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities is definitely for women readers, and promotes their need to feel important, regardless of political persuasions. The stories especially bring out each woman’s personality, describing what kind of person she was: her temperament, background, and personal interests. Many were rather ordinary, living upright, godly lives as pleasing to their husbands and society, and some seem more likeable than others. Yet they all have interesting stories – some quite unique and entertaining.

Foster’s book is overall a great enjoyment, an easy and entertaining way to learn many interesting and trivial things about people now forgotten, a look at history that we don’t usually get from a history book. Above all, the information in this book clearly reveals how much history repeats itself, and how we are all so much alike. (If you thought, for instance, that the 2000 Election debacle was the first ever, you will learn differently here.) Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities is definitely a good read, and brings out the best in Foster’s research and knowledge regarding this subject, of the Presidents and First Ladies.

"Rich with history and wars and politics." - November, 2004

BOOK REVIEW by Linda Barnett-Johnson

LongStoryShort.com

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities by Feather Schwartz Foster. This book is like nothing I've ever read. If you're interested in the history of the First Ladies of the United States, from Martha Dandridge Custis Washington to Mamie Doud Eisenhower, then you need to get this book. Not only is it full of the history of these fine ladies, but also gives you an insight on the role they played in their husband's lives before and after they became presidents. It tells how they met their husbands and what they did before and after they married.

What also makes this book unique is how it's written. Each chapter is written by a First Lady with comments from other first ladies interspersed throughout, even by some of our more current ladies. Here's an excerpt from the book on Jane Appleton Pierce:

"When James Polk became President in 1845, he remembered Mr. Pierce from his congressional days and tendered him the office of Attorney General. My husband was thrilled! He had always enjoyed Washington-choleric and Godless though it was. He still maintained his many friends there. I, on the other hand, was adamant. I absolutely refused to go. I would remain in Concord, and devote myself entirely to our last son, our beloved Bennie, who was a small boy, and all I had. I was near forty, and it was my last chance at motherhood. I convinced Mr. Pierce that his true place, his Christian place, was at home with Bennie and me, and not gallivanting to parties and socials and levees in that heathen city. Mr. Pierce bowed to my wishes. He declined the appointment. I believe that while he was always solicitous and considerate of me, it was a turning point in our private affairs. Mr. Pierce, who had always enjoyed a glass of Madeira or bourbon, turned to more copious consumption; I turned from him, and turned more and more toward Bennie. And God. My prayer book was never far from my reach. Not long thereafter, our country was embroiled in a war with Mexico, and so eager was Mr. Pierce to be involved, that he enlisted as an ordinary private! Franklin Pierce, a college educated, a former Congressman, grandson of a Revolutionary War general, a lowly private!"

(Now here's where some of the other first ladies speak up)

JULIE GRANT

"He probably just wanted to get away from her."

NANCY REAGAN

"I can understand that. Jane Pierce was a pill. Probably needed to be on

Prozac."

BARBARA BUSH

"I can say those things, Nancy, but you can't. She was MY distant relative. Actually it was her husband who was my relative, but blood-and I suppose marriage-is thicker than water. But Jane was a pill. And Prozac might have helped."

As you can see, there is plenty of humor too. What a great gift this book would make for those history buffs or for those that have everything. Even though I'm not a history aficionado, I enjoyed reading this book. I learned so much more about the feelings of these wonderful ladies. It's rich with history and wars and politics. How they felt about slavery, families and the White House. Men and women alike will benefit from Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities. It's a book you'll want to read over and over.

So if you want to take a step back in history to find out about these gallant and resourceful women, go to Amazon.com. "Hope you enjoy the old gals," says Feather. You bet I did!

"A Stunning Debut" - October 2003

Reviewed by Beverly J. Rowe

Feather Schwartz Foster makes a stunning debut as she weaves fiction with historical fact, giving us a whole new perspective on the women who were married to our Presidents. Each First Lady tells her own story, beginning with Martha Washington and ending with Mamie Eisenhower. However, there are also some off-the-cuff commentaries by the later First Ladies Barbara Bush, Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan.

Author Foster has combined years of research with her vivid imagination and puts us right in the room with this diverse group of women from our historical past. Each one comes through with a believable voice. The differing views on everything including slavery, suffrage, alcohol abuse, fidelity, and a woman's role in the shaping of our country is mesmerizing.

The only thing these ladies had in common was the fact that they were married to Presidents of the United States. Some wished they were not, but most were happily married, and enjoyed their years in the White House. Each was a woman of her time, and we can thank some of these ladies for making a difference in how women are treated in America today.

This innovative book defies category. Partly fiction, it isn't a novel, but it isn't short stories either. It's best described as conversations with dear friends as they take on every subject imaginable. This book would make a wonderful gift for your favorite history aficionado

"Wow! This book blew me away!"

Reviewed by: Ann M. Beardsley

Wow! This book blew me away. Imagine all of our First Ladies from Martha Washington up through Mamie Eisenhower getting together and talking about what it's like to be a First Lady. Now imagine all the rest of the First Ladies, from Jackie Kennedy all the way up through Hilary Rodham Clinton, adding their comments via teleconferencing-and you'll get a vague idea of this book, which doesn't yet do it justice.

There's Mary Todd Lincoln claiming she's not crazy, only greatly misunderstood. Then Julia Grant breaks in and says of Mary, "This is not a stable person." These ladies are individuals, and their personalities shine through history without the interference-but definitely with the influence-of their more famous husbands. Some are sweet and capable, others are bitchy and gushy. All of them are fantastic individuals, thrust unwillingly into the spotlight.

Written by a historian, this accurate portrayal of the First Ladies is a must-have for any history buff. Yet it reads like fiction, which also makes it a must-have for all the rest of us (especially those of us who find most nonfiction rather dry), including students with term papers to write. If you enjoyed Cokie Roberts' FOUNDING MOTHERS-which was a great book as well-this book will be even better-think of it as FOUNDING MOTHERS with a sense of humor. Ration yourself: you'll end up limiting your reading to one chapter a night just to prolong the joy of reading it.

Part of the draw of this book is the author's way of getting into the heads of the First Ladies, giving each one the quirks and temperament of her time. Part of it is the subject itself, many of them mostly forgotten First Ladies. (Rutherford B. Hayes tends to be forgettable all by himself, but can anyone even remember his wife? You will after you read this book!)

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Enjoy!

"An extremely pleasant and deeply satisfying read!"

Reviewed by Denise M. Clark – August 2003 for

Denise’s Pieces Author Site & Book Reviews

http://www.denisemclark.com

When we are young, we are taught to memorize the Presidents of the United States. A good lesson to be sure - on leadership, dedication and loyalty. But there is also a famous phrase… “Behind every good man is a good woman.” This is certainly true when one opens the table of contents to ‘Ladies’. How many of us know the First Wives? Sure, we know a few, but it is usually only a handful and the lady comes from relatively recent history. Well, goodbye ignorance and welcome to a unique, refreshing and witty compilation of vignettes that will introduce the reader to the inner thoughts, hopes and dreams of every First Lady, from Martha Washington to Mamie Eisenhower. After all, claims the author, First Ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy to Laura Bush have the media at their disposal 24/7.

Beginning with a delightful introduction by Lucy Hayes, the reader is thoroughly and enchantingly captures by author Foster’s unusual narrative… sometimes wicked, sometimes gentle, but never, ever boring. This reader highly recommends this book for everyone, male or female, to learn a little history, a lot of early Americana culture, and a bevy of laughs.

Still, serious subject matters are discussed in this fictional yet very true to historical fact collection of comments, reminiscences and memories. Each chapter tells the viewpoint of a First lady and is dotted with comments from the others… as if the reader is present at a tea party in heaven. These women talk about their private lives, politics, the customs of the time and how they relate to their everyday lives, and also a present a view of what women felt and believed during the days of their youth and beyond.

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities is a rare treat. Go ahead and indulge. One need not feel guilty for delving too deeply into the pages of this book, which is definitely an extremely pleasant and deeply satisfying read!

"Mild humor, and clever writing"

Review by Dr. Alma Bond, reviewer for www.rebeccasreads.com

Senior Reviewer Dr. Alma Bond writes:

When I first picked up A Conjecture of Personalities, I didn't expect too much. I thought, "how can anyone take seriously a writer whose first name is Feather?" I was wrong. As I got into the book, I found myself enjoying it. By the time it was finished, I loved it! I found out that Feather Schwartz Foster is no lightweight, but a serious historical scholar with a terrific sense of humor! The name is a ruse, I decided, to throw us off the truth and disguise her true identity. Fortunately, I was not fooled for long.

"Ladies..." is a work of fiction. It is purely conjecture, but based on historical fact; a book of voices that were seldom heard during their lifetimes and have been submerged in historical neglect. Ms. Foster has attempted in her own inimitable manner to bring them back from oblivion. Each Lady has her say, with others contributing their thoughts in dialog boxes, as topics arise that interest them. It is an original and clever way of bringing together isolated historical facts. Foster has tried (and succeeded at) giving readers a portrait of the uniqueness of these women, their individual styles, and their distinctive ways of expressing themselves. Seventeen ladies lost children, four had husbands who were assassinated, another five had assassinations. It is interesting to read how the ladies handled these tragedies. Some dwelt on them, some glossed them over, and some avoided the references entirely. For example, a few, like Jane Apppleton Pierce and Mary Todd Lincoln, never recovered from their grief, while others, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, used the tragedies in their lives as impetus for further development.

The book brings to life all the First Ladies between Martha Washington and Mamie Eisenhower, and throws in comments by modern First Ladies from Mrs. Kennedy through Mrs. Clinton for good measure. Except for a few beloved First Ladies, i.e. Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Roosevelt, I, for one, knew very little about them. Foster's book has changed that. Each lady speaks in her own voice, so that one often knows which one is speaking without being told. It is quite a tour de force on the part of Ms. Foster to develop 29 major characters along with the modern First Ladies whose voices are heard only in their comments, without having them mixed up in the minds of the readers.

Speaking of Lou Henry Hoover, I never had the slightest interest in her, and couldn't have told you her first name. To my surprise, I discovered that she was an educated woman, a serious scholar, and one easily able to handle all the ceremonial and functional duties that most of the other Ladies whined about. She was graduated from Stanford University as a degreed geologist, at a time when few women went to college. Hoover was a mining engineer and traveled all over the world to practice his profession Lou went along with two babies in tow, and helped him in his work, drafting reports and analyses for him. She became the intermediary for the "native" contractors, making sure things were done promptly, properly, and as inexpensively as possible. . Later she translated an ancient mining treatise from its original Latin. The book was published and actually became a "best seller!" Although both of their names were listed as co-authors, she had done most of the work. So he "let" her keep the royalties. During the war, the Germans had decimated Belgium. Lou went on a speaking tour of the United States and raised more than $200.000 - in 1916! The Hoovers made an excellent team and established a true partnership. Lou Hoover is someone I would have liked to have known. I never cared much for Herbert Hoover,

but reading about his warm and successful marriage made me think he couldn't have been all that bad.

Another interesting relatively unknown First Lady was Grace Goodhew Coolidge. Most of us knew that Calvin Coolidge was a taciturn, silent man, but I had not realized that he probably wouldn't have gotten elected if his vivacious, outgoing wife had not been so loved by his constituents. "Where Calvin was dour," she ‘said,' "I smiled; where he was taciturn, I was loquacious; where he was ill-at-ease, I exuded the confidence of a person with absolutely no agenda. And where he was ‘Calvin Who?' I was that delightful Mrs. Coolidge." She lived on quietly in Northampton, Massachusetts for nearly thirty years after her husband died. His death freed her to try new things. She flew in an airplane, went to Europe, spent time with her son and his family, revived an old interest in the hard-of-hearing and became a trustee for the Clarke School. She lived every day optimistically, pleasantly, and as productively as her health allowed. She sounds like a delightful person, in contrast to her "dour" husband.

Perhaps the most revealing story is that of Mary Todd Lincoln. It is a "known fact" of history that Mrs. Lincoln was insane. This book casts doubt upon that verdict. She is also remembered as quite plump. That is not correct. Although she had a round face, she was five feet three inches tall and at her heaviest weighed 130 pounds. She suffered from terrible migraine headaches, and she did have a temper. Also she liked to shop. None of which sounds like psychosis, or many more of us would be considered crazy. After her husband was murdered, life as Mrs. Lincoln knew it was over. She had two surviving sons, Robert and Tad. Robert had to assume full responsibility for the funeral, when his mother, unlike Mrs. Kennedy in similar circumstances, took to her bed. That's when he stopped being the "son" and became the "father". When he married, the women didn't get along, and Mary and Robert became estranged. Her emotional health, which always had been frail, deteriorated even more. The story that most often is told to prove her incompetency is the following: One night, when she was staying alone in a Chicago hotel, she heard a noise outside of her rooms, so she opened her door to check it out. She was wearing her nightgown and a shawl. Robert was notified and decided that she was "exposing herself in a near state of undress." This was deemed of sufficient cause to have her put away in a private sanitarium. She says, "What was I supposed to do? Quickly put on my corset and crinolines and finest ball gown to open the door and investigate?"

After she was pronounced "cured," she spent her remaining days with her sister, waiting for death to unite her with her loved ones.

Mrs. Lincoln ballyhoos another well-known story in the book. It is generally believed that President Lincoln spent his life yearning for a purported "lost love" with an Ann Rutledge. Ms. Foster, in the guise of Mrs. Lincoln, says that Rutledge never even existed, or if she did, was merely a passing acquaintance of no significance.

"And that's the truth," comments Mrs. Lincoln, in ending her story.

I have read another First Ladies book, "America's First Ladies," by Betty Boyd Caroli. It is a coffee table book, with sumptuous photographs that are lovely to look at. Yet I much prefer the less pretentious "A Conjecture of Personalities," by Feather Schwartz Foster. It is clever, original, interesting, and even humorous in spots, and left me feeling that I had learned a great deal about our First Ladies in a most pleasant manner. The book is recommended for all who like biography, history, mild humor, and clever writing.

More from Feather Schwartz Foster:

After spending three decades in advertising and public relations, and writing more than a dozen children's musicals, Feather Schwartz Foster has put her long-time hobby as a presidential historian to productive use, drawing on a personal library of more than 1000 president-related volumes.

"An engaging, delightful read"

Reviewed by Christy Tillery French

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities by Feather Schwartz Foster weaves fiction with historical fact for a fresh look at those First Ladies who are not as well-known as the more recent, much-written-about "modern" First Ladies, from Jackie Kennedy forward.

The book begins with this country's very first First Lady, Martha Washington, wife of George Washington, and ends with Mamie Eisenhower, who was married to Dwight Eisenhower, our thirty-fourth President. Each First Lady is given her own chapter to write about herself and her experiences while in the White House, with comments from other First Ladies colloquialized throughout.

These First Ladies were as diverse physically as they were in regards to personality, and the vast majority were intelligent, articulate women possessing great insight. It is interesting to note the steady idealistic progression of women throughout our history, as seen through the eyes of these First Ladies. Their differing views regarding slavery, suffrage, temperance, fidelity, and a woman's role in the workforce are fascinating to read. Most of the First Ladies were very much in love with their husbands, although there were some who were not so enamored. Even though many of these women enjoyed their days in the White House, there were those who abhorred it. Some wished to stand apart and be remembered, while others desired only to return to what they considered their real home life. The conversations among the ladies are interesting and fun to read, especially the snippets between Abigail Adams and her daughter-in-law Louisa Adams, and Mary Lincoln and Julia Grant.

The only constant between this steady flow of women is that they were married to Presidents of the United States. It appears that more than a few were from the state of Ohio and that most of these First Ladies outlived their husbands. The majority never dreamed they would one day inhabit the White House, while there were some who strove to occupy that space.

An engaging, delightful read filled with historical facts and fun conversational tidbits among the First Ladies, such that at times, I felt as if I were in a room, listening to these women speak. This is a grand concept by this author and a book I highly recommend to all readers, whether history buff or not.

"An extremely pleasant and deeply satisfying read"

Reviewed by Denise M. Clark – August 2003

"clever, original, interesting, and even humorous"

Dr. Alma Bond, reviewer for www.rebeccasreads.com

"Ladies..." is a work of fiction. It is purely conjecture, but based on historical fact; a book of voices that were seldom heard during their lifetimes and have been submerged in historical neglect. Ms. Foster has attempted in her wn inimitable manner to bring them back from oblivion. Each Lady has her say, with others contributing their thoughts in dialog boxes, as topics arise that interest them. It is an original and clever way of bringing together isolated historical facts. Foster has tried (and succeeded at) giving readers a portrait of the uniqueness of these women, their individual styles, and their distinctive ways of expressing themselves. Seventeen ladies lost children, four had husbands who were assassinated, another five had assassinations. It is interesting to read how the ladies handled these tragedies. Some dwelt on them, some glossed them over, and some avoided the references entirely. For example, a few, like Jane Apppleton Pierce and Mary Todd Lincoln, never recovered from their grief, while others, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, used the tragedies in their lives as impetus for further development.

Ladies, i.e. Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Roosevelt, I, for one, knew very little about them. Foster's book has changed that. Each lady speaks in her own voice, so that one often knows which one is speaking without being told. It is quite a tour de force on the part of Ms. Foster to develop 29 major characters along with the modern First Ladies whose voices are heard only in their comments, without having them mixed up in the minds of the readers.

What a delightful way to learn history! For example, I learned that the White House used to be open house for any "well-behaved, properly dressed people" who wanted to drop into "the President's house" and chat. This continued until Hoover's election in 1929, when the White House became too unwieldy and posed serious security problems. According to "Lou Hoover," they then ended all "open houses." The "good old days" had something to say for themselves. Speaking of Lou Henry Hoover, I never had the slightest interest in her, and couldn't have told you her first name. To my surprise, I discovered that she was an educated woman, a serious scholar, and one easily able to handle all the ceremonial and functional duties that most of the other Ladies whined about. She was graduated from Stanford University as a degreed geologist, at a time when few women went to college. Hoover was a mining engineer and traveled all over the world to practice his profession Lou went along with two babies in tow, and helped him in his work, drafting reports and analyses for him. She became the intermediary for the "native" contractors, making sure things were done promptly, properly, and as inexpensively as possible. . Later she translated an ancient mining treatise from its original Latin. The book was published and actually became a "best seller!" Although both of their names were listed as co-authors, she had done most of the work. So he "let" her keep the royalties. During the war, the Germans had decimated Belgium. Lou went on a speaking tour of the United States and raised more than $200.000 - in 1916! The Hoovers made an excellent team and established a true partnership. Lou Hoover is someone I would have liked to have known. I never cared much for Herbert Hoover, but reading about his warm and successful marriage made me think he couldn't have been all that bad.

Another interesting relatively unknown First Lady was Grace Goodhue Coolidge. Most of us knew that Calvin Coolidge was a taciturn, silent man, but I had not realized that he probably wouldn't have gotten elected if his vivacious, outgoing wife had not been so loved by his constituents. "Where Calvin was dour," she ‘said,' "I smiled; where he was taciturn, I was loquacious; where he was ill-at-ease, I exuded the confidence of a person with absolutely no agenda. And where he was ‘Calvin Who?' I was that delightful Mrs. Coolidge." She lived on quietly in Northampton, Massachusetts for nearly thirty years after her husband died. His death freed her to try new things. She flew in an airplane, went to Europe, spent time with her son and his family, revived an old interest in the hard-of-hearing and became a trustee for the Clarke School. She lived every day optimistically, pleasantly, and as productively as her health allowed. She sounds like a delightful person, in contrast to her "dour" husband. Perhaps the most revealing story is that of Mary Todd Lincoln. It is a "known fact" of history that Mrs. Lincoln was insane. This book casts doubt upon that verdict. She is also remembered as quite plump. That is not correct. Although she had a round face, she was five feet three inches tall and at her heaviest weighed 130 pounds. She suffered from terrible migraine headaches, and she did have a temper. Also she liked to shop. None of which sounds like psychosis, or many more of us would be considered crazy. After her husband was murdered, life as Mrs. Lincoln knew it was over. She had two surviving sons, Robert and Tad. Robert had to assume full responsibility for the funeral, when his mother, unlike Mrs. Kennedy in similar circumstances, took to her bed. That's when he stopped being the "son" and became the "father". When he married, the women didn't get along, and Mary and Robert became estranged. Her emotional health, which always had been frail, deteriorated even more. The story that most often is told to prove her incompetency is the following: One night, when she was staying alone in a Chicago hotel, she heard a noise outside of her rooms, so she opened her door to check it out. She was wearing her nightgown and a shawl. Robert was notified and decided that she was "exposing herself in a near state of undress." This was deemed of sufficient cause to have her put away in a private sanitarium. She says, "What was I supposed to do? Quickly put on my corset and crinolines and finest ball gown to open the door and investigate?" After she was pronounced "cured," she spent her remaining days with her sister, waiting for death to unite her with her loved ones. Mrs. Lincoln ballyhoos another well-known story in the book. It is generally believed that President Lincoln spent his life yearning for a purported "lost love" with an Ann Rutledge. Ms. Foster, in the guise of Mrs. Lincoln, says that Rutledge never even existed, or if she did, was merely a passing acquaintance of no significance.

"And that's the truth," comments Mrs. Lincoln, in ending her story. I have read another First Ladies book, "America's First Ladies," by Betty Boyd Caroli. It is a coffee table book, with sumptuous photographs that are lovely to look at. Yet I much prefer the less pretentious "A Conjecture of Personalities," by Feather Schwartz Foster. It is clever, original, interesting, and even humorous in spots, and left me feeling that I had learned a great deal about our First Ladies in a most pleasant manner. The book is recommended for all who like biography, history, mild humor, and clever writing.

"Wise, naïve, elegant, crass, refined and catty"

Reviewed by Dian edmoore@stratuswave.net 3/1/2005

Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities" is a book filled with the voices of America's First Ladies. From Martha Washington to Mamie Eisehnhower, these vibrant, lively women speak from the past as modern day First Ladies comment from the sidelines.

The "moderns," as Lucy Hayes comments, already had their say.

"Ladies" will absorb the reader's attention from the first page to the last.

Wise, naïve, elegant, crass, refined and catty; all personalities are represented in this unique ode to the women who stood by America's presidents.

"I highly recommend this book."

Reviewed by Christy French 3/1/2005

I found this to be one of the most entertaining, as well as edifying, books I've read to date. It was fascinating being allowed a "peek" into the minds of the First Ladies of the past, women who so often remained in the shadows yet played such a vivid part in history. It was interesting to note the progression forward with each First Lady. I highly recommend this book.

"a most outstanding historical reading."

Reviewed by June Briggs 10/1/2003

Reading Ladies has given me a whole new perspective of what First Ladies are really all about.We so often picture them as Fashion Plates. Reading the book enlightened me to how human they really were and are. Ladies being most informative gives credit where credit is due. These First Ladies all through the ages were real assets to their husbands. Many worked hard, suffered great losses, and experienced sometimes cruel hardships. For example what President who was first Minister to Russia, made his wife leave 2 small sons behind in America for 5 years?You must read the book to find out. I am so glad these First Ladies came forward to tell the real story. Our author, Ms. Foster is to be commended for bringing us this most outstanding historical reading.

"Bravo!!"

Reviewed by Linda Alexander 1/8/2003

Feather: What an intriguing concept! This one will have to go on my "to buy" list. I'm glad I checked out your site. I had no idea what your book was about, & how creatively you had treated the subject matter.

Bravo!!

"A wonderfully refreshing work of true art."

Reviewed by Dana Matthews 12/6/2002

Simply genius! A wonderfully refreshing work of true art. Ms. Foster blends into form a book that is as unique and diverse as the women it represents! These are characters that all women can relate to in their own view of the world. A job well done Ms. Foster. Congrats!

"un-put-downable. "

Reviewed by gail wolfberg 12/4/2002

I didn't know what to expect which is the best way to approach this book. It is not - repeat NOT - a tedious, dry chronicle of dates that mean nothing and events that have slipped through the cracks of history. No, it's a superlative opportunity to view our First Ladies as they truly were, replete with all the characteristics that made them Women of Choice for our country's presidents.

It is original and anecdotal. Precise and informative. If you read Gone With The Wind, you will not get a history book but a pulsating blow-by-blow of the Civil War. Likewise, "Ladies..." will not be like cramming for a test. You will read it with a smile on your face and perhaps a flashlight under the blankets. It's that un-put-downable.

"chatty and lively and full of personality"

Reviewed by Randi Grunstein 12/2/2002

Reading the chapter on Mrs. Johnson, it was as if she was speaking directly to me. I could hear her voice and see her emotion and pride. This book finally gives these ladies the recognition they so rightly deserve. So many of them lived in the shadow of their husbands, they became known in posterity as Mrs. so-and-so and what they wore to the inauguration. Now it is their turn to tell us about themselves and their lives. And what a great way to tell it, not all dates and such...chatty and lively and full of personality. I can't wait for the rest!

"She has taken historical fiction to another level."

Reviewed by S Robinson 11/25/2002

I have had the privilege and pleasure of reading two of Feather's chapters. Her use of dialogue boxes, in which other First Ladies comment on the narrative in progress, is superb. In turns chatty, catty, sympathetic, vindictive, filled with historical tidbits, sadness, pride, and in places, downright haunting...in short, the full range of human emotions. The narrations themselves sound like you are "hearing" the women talk, and would be outstanding by themselves. What Feather Foster has done is ingenious. She has taken historical fiction to another level.

"Very interesting twist!"

Reviewed by James Filegar 11/25/2002

Very interesting twist! The excerpt on Mary Todd Lincoln is very interesting. I think you may be on to something here! I will definitiely put this book on my 'to buy' list!

"very entertaining and quite funny"

Reviewed by Susan Weekley/ author 11/21/2002

I found Ladies to be very entertaining and quite funny at times. Being a woman under 5' I related to Mrs. Lincoln even though we are generations apart! Ms. Foster has a different and unique style of writing but still makes the reader feel as if they are talking and listening to the Ladies like they were still with us. Exceptional read!

But having decided that lecturing is a viable option for your book….