The Secrets of Mary Bowser
The Civil War told from a different perspective, a black female spy. An intriguing story filled with interesting characters, the author keeps the reader entertained from beginning to end with a well told tale.
Rated of 5
by Carmen S. (Elkins, Arkansas)
Great read
This book is even more amazing because its based on a true story. Very informative about the difficult times and hardships of people during that period of time.
Rated of 5
by Viqui G. (State College, PA)
The Secrets of Mary Bowser
This was an intriguing historical fiction based loosely on the life of a black woman, Mary Bowser, who was a spy for the Union during the Civil War. I enjoyed learning about Richmond and the life of slaves and free blacks in a city before and during the war. I was familiar with slavery in plantations and in cotton and rice fields, but not in cities. I think readers will be interested in learning how important spies for the Federals were in the overall effort of winning the war. Although the author had little facts to develop Mary's character, she did a good job of creating a believable and well-rounded woman with opinions and strengths. My one criticism is that too much time was spent on Mary's early life in Richmond and Boston. The novel really became interesting in Book Three during the war years.
Rated of 5
by Linda B. (Sheridan, WY)
The Secrets of Mary Bowser
The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen is an interesting look on life in Richmond, Virginia, before and during the Civil War. The book is well written and the characters are fully drawn. Learning about Mary El’s childhood and early life as a slave with her mother in the Van Lew household helps us understand the relationship between the slaves and their masters.
I read a nonfiction Civil War book while reading The Secrets of Mary Bowser. This experience was appealing to me as I read what was happening from the point of view of two armies and two presidents while, at the same time, reading about the everyday life of the citizens of Richmond.
Those who enjoy historical fiction will delight in reading this book.
Rated of 5
by DawnEllen J. (Riverside, CA)
History Comes Alive
Lois Leveen takes a little-known historical figure and makes her come alive in The Secrets of Mary Bowser. Working carefully researched events and other historical figures together with richly nuanced creative details and fictional elements, Leveen weaves a wonderfully engaging tapestry that honors her subject and treats difficult material with sensitivity and honesty. Through Mary's experiences, the reader is compelled to confront the usual ideas about North and South, slave and free, and comes away with a completely different understanding of this complex period of history. This is historical fiction at its best: it teaches, enlightens, delights, challenges, and entertains.
Rated of 5
by Laura A. (Jeremiah, KY)
Well worth reading!
The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen is a true story of a young slave girl in Richmond, VA who spends her life (most of it being done in complete secrecy) fighting for freedom for the slaves. And in doing these things she is risking her own freedom and even life. This book was an amazing and sometimes sad story but definitely one worth reading. Mary was an incredible woman.
Rated of 5
by Kathy H. (Richmond, VA)
In a word...
Boring. "Mary Bowser" just dragged for me. I didn't see or feel the characters come alive on the page. To be fair, I only made it to page 84, but I simply found myself slogging through.
A bold, mesmerizing novel about the woman known as "Typhoid Mary," the first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever in the burgeoning metropolis of early twentieth century New York.
Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
read more
Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
read more
Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
read more
British Parliament asks Amazon to clarify why it pays $9 million in income tax on $23 billion of UK sales.(May 20 2013) Amazon will be called back to give further evidence to members of the British Parliament "to clarify how its activities in the U.K. justify its low corporate...
Full Story
of 5
by Barbara O. (Maryland Heights, MO)
of 5
by Kathy H. (Richmond, VA)
