Dolley

By Rita Mae Brown

Book Overview

She had the president's ear and the nation's heart. She's the wife of the fourth president of the United States; a spirited charmer who adores parties, the latest French fashions, and the tender,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553088904
• ISBN13: 9780553088908
• Release Date: May 1994
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 382 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.5" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Couldn't put it down.

I've plowed through a number of heavy historical books about Dolley Madison but none of them ever gave me the sense of the real woman behind the legend until this book. Written in a personable style of Dolley writing in her journal, it is offset by third person narrative filling in the historical happenings. The book is surprisingly complete and correct in political detail. In Ms. Brown's book, Dolley is a living breathing woman who 'fusses' with sister Anna, wholeheartedly throws herself into her husband's political career, ignores her son Payne's wanton selfishness (too painful to contemplate), and deeply loves her husband James, even though she and 'the great little Madison' seemed to be polar opposites at first glance. It is their relationship that is the most interesting to me; they seemed mismatched in personality, James shy and introverted and Dolley bubbly and outgoing. James and Dolley Madison shared a love for the ages and reading about them in a novel form is a splendid read; the Madisons sound like one would imagine they would talk to one another. Maybe a few modernisms creep into their speech, but that for makes easier reading. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction or is just in the mood for a good romance with political backgrounds.

Interesting blend of history and fiction - a good read!

Rita Mae Brown delivers again...recommended reading! Dolley has a good flavor of Madison's era. Fortunately its written as a novel and not a textbook, making it very readable and occasionally juicy. I found it to be a gentle way to get acquainted with - and interested in - early American history. Interested enough to go seek out Dolley Madison's memoirs and letters...too bad they are out of print :(