American Marriage

An enlightening narrative exploring an oft-overlooked aspect of the sixteenth president's life,An American Marriagereveals the tragic story of Abraham Lincoln's marriage to Mary Todd. Abraham Lincoln was apparently one ofthose men who regarded "connubial bliss" as an untenable fantasy.During the Civil War, hepardoned a Union soldier who had deserted the army to return home to wed hissweetheart.As thepresident signed a document sparing thesoldier'slife, Lincoln said: "I want topunish the young man-probably in less than a year he will wish I hadwithheldthe pardon." Based on thirty years of research,An American Marriagedescribes and analyzes why Lincoln had good reason to regret hismarriage to Mary Todd. This revealing narrative shows that, as First Lady, Mary Lincoln accepted bribes and kickbacks, sold permitsand pardons, engaged in extortion, and peddled influence. The reader comes to learn that Lincoln wed Mary Todd because, in alllikelihood, she seduced him and then insisted that he protect her honor. Perhaps surprisingly, the 5'2" Mrs. Lincoln often physicallyabused her 6'4" husband, as well as her children and servants; she humiliated her husband in public; she caused him, as president, tofear that she would disgrace him publicly. Unlike her husband, she was not profoundly opposed to slavery and hardly qualifies as the "ardent abolitionist" that somehistorians have portrayed. While she provided a useful stimulus to his ambition, she often "crushed his spirit," as his law partner putit. In the end, Lincoln may not have had as successful a presidency as he did-where he showed a preternatural ability to deal withdifficult people-if he had not had so much practice at home.