Books like Mrs. Lincoln's rival by Jennifer Chiaverini

Jennifer Chiaverini’s historical fiction examines the sharp competition between Mary Todd Lincoln and Kate Chase Sprague, the daughter of Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase. Both women shared political insight and devotion to the men they loved, yet their paths crossed as mutual obstacles in Washington’s elite circles. The novel follows Sprague’s rise in society, her strategic marriage to Rhode Island Governor William Sprague, and the tense interplay with Mrs. Lincoln—illustrating how each woman’s public success was measured against the other’s. Chiaverini’s work consistently highlights extraordinary, often overlooked women in American history. By detailing their personal ambitions and the social customs that framed their lives, the book provides a nuanced look at the pressure and power dynamics of 19th‑century political families.

First publish date: 2014