Elizabeth Keckley

Elizabeth Keckley was an African-American seamstress, activist, and author. She is best known for her autobiography 'Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House,' which provides a unique perspective on her life as a former slave who became a successful dressmaker and confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Thirty Years As A Slave And Four Years In The White House

    Cover of 'Thirty Years As A Slave And Four Years In The White House' by Elizabeth Keckley

    This memoir offers a poignant and powerful account of an African American woman's life journey from the harsh realities of enslavement to her emancipation and subsequent role as a successful dressmaker and confidante to the First Lady of the United States during the Civil War era. The narrative provides a unique insider's perspective on daily life in the White House, as well as intimate observations of presidential family dynamics during one of the nation's most tumultuous periods. Her story is one of resilience and determination, highlighting the struggles and achievements of a woman who navigated the complex intersections of race, gender, and politics in 19th-century America.

    The 3462nd Greatest Book of All Time