Courting Mr. Lincoln

A Novel

By: Louis Bayard

Narrated by: Robert Fass, Tavia Gilbert

When Mary Todd meets Abraham Lincoln in Springfield in the winter of 1840, he is on no one's shortlist to be president. Rough and reticent, he's a country lawyer lacking money and manners, living above a dry goods shop, but with a gift for oratory. Mary, a quick, self-possessed debutante with a tireless interest in debates and elections, at first finds him an enigma. "I can only hope," she tells his roommate, the handsome, charming Joshua Speed, "that his waters being so very still, they also run deep."

It's not long, though, before she sees the Lincoln that Speed knows: a man who, despite his awkwardness, is amiable and profound, with a gentle wit to match his genius and a respect for her keen political mind. But as her relationship with Lincoln deepens, she must confront his inseparable friendship with Speed, who has taught his roommate how to dance, dress, and navigate the polite society of Springfield.

Told in the alternating voices of Mary Todd and Joshua Speed, and rich with historical detail, Courting Mr. Lincoln creates a sympathetic and complex portrait of Mary unlike any that has come before; a moving portrayal of the deep and very real connection between the two men; and most of all, an evocation of the unformed man who would grow into one of the nation's most beloved presidents.

©2019 Louis Bayard (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Beautifully written story of love and loss.

Louis Bayard wove historical facts beautifully with his imagined events and dialog. Fascinating and beautifully written story of love and loss.

Listen to this!

This is like if “Emma” and “Pride and Prejudice” had a gay American baby. LOVE.

Interesting

Having read many books about Mary and Abraham Lincoln, this book was interesting but added nothing that I did not already know about them. I did not know about Joshua Speed's life after he returned to his Farmington Plantation which is now the renowned Speed Museum.

Great job capturing personalities

After having read other works on Lincoln (everything from Sandburg’s dry 3-volume biography to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, I feel that this novel did a really nice job capturing the personalities of each historical figure. I was especially impressed with the way Lincoln’s low self-esteem and depression were handled.

Could not have been better!

Louis Bayard's account of Lincoln's bachelorhood, courtship, and rise to the forefront of a troubled nation rings with the everyday truth of a young man on his way to a future we know, but which he had no idea of at the time. Bayard helps us to see beyond that terrible future to become aquainted with the every day life and character of three young people facing an uncertain future, as all of us do: Lincoln, Mary and the storekeeper with whom Lincoln lived. Bayard gives us history minus the coming tragedies and genuine human characters with whose tensions and dellights we can relate. He brings this era and story to living reality.

Great read. I highly recommended

I’m always a bit Leary of historical fiction, tending to confuse fiction with fact. Knowing that it is a work of fiction, though I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It is mostly based on Mary Todd Lincoln which I have always been fascinated with. From her young years as a bright, fun loving, politically informed young woman to the end of her days. Losing three sons and Lincoln. A full yet ultimately, heartbreaking life.

Very Entertaining

This is not what I would usually listen to but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found myself rooting for Lincoln and Mary to get together. The different perspectives of Joshua and Mary added to the storyline and character development. And you couldn't have picked better narrators! Well done Louis!

A beautiful, absorbing work.

Such an engaging story, with audible performances that we're mesmerising. This must be made into a play!

A different view of the Lincoln legend

Quite interesting alternate view of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd. Interesting because this telling makes Lincoln the love object ! of two people, Mary Todd and Joshua Speed, Lincoln’s friend and roommate before marriage to MT. I did find the book to be a bit over-long, and neither narrator is a favorite, but still an engaging and interesting look at one of America’s greatest statesmen.

Excellent

I was enthralled with this book and was reluctant to put it down to the end.