OCTOBER 2012 - AudioFile
Mary Bowser is in an unusual position for a Civil War-era African-American. Born into slavery, she is freed and educated by her owner. Robin Miles gives Mary a gentle voice while vocally painting vivid contrasts with those she encounters in her new life. Miles crafts an amusing caricature of Mary’s rich beau and accurately delivers the brogue of a Scotsman. As a link in the Underground Railroad and a Union spy, Mary poses as a slave to Confederate first lady Varina Davis, who is sharply drawn by Miles as a spoiled, self-indulgent woman. This novel is a winner as delivered by a masterful narrator. J.J.B. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
Leveen's rich debut is a fictional retelling of the life of Mary El, the tenacious Virginian slave turned spy. Mary was born into bondage, but when her master dies, his daughter Bet, a fierce abolitionist, frees Mary and her family and sends the young woman to school in Philadelphia. There, Mary discovers the pervasiveness of prejudice—even in the North—and begins shuttling slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad, work that tests Mary's courage and ability to function in dangerous situations. But when her mother dies, Mary must return to Virginia to care for her ailing father. As the Civil War approaches, Mary courts and weds Wilson Bowser, and with the help of Bet, poses as an illiterate slave in the house of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, using her photographic memory to relay crucial information to Union forces. Deftly integrating historical research into this gripping tale of adventure, love, and national conflict, Leveen brings Mary to life and evenhandedly reveals the humanity on both sides of America's deadliest war. (May)
From the Publisher
Masterfully written, The Secrets of Mary Bowser shines a new light onto our country’s darkest history. Balancing fire and grace, the story of Mary Bowser is an ethical journey we won’t soon forget, one that takes us from hatred to courage to love.” — Brunonia Barry, bestselling author of The Lace Reader and The Map of True Places
“The Secrets of Mary Bowser is a good old-fashioned historical novel packed with drama, intrigue, love, loss, and most of all, the resilience of a remarkable heroine who forges her own destiny from the first page. What a treat!” — -Kelly O'Connor McNees, author of The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
“Deftly balancing history, romance and adventure, Leveen honors the life and historical importance of a brave, resourceful woman.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Told with clarity, confidence, and courage, The Secrets of Mary Bowser illuminates an untold and important story about slavery, the Civil War, and the role of women in achieving emancipation. A riveting and powerful book.” — Naseem Rakha, internationally bestselling author of The Crying Tree
“Lois Leveen has written a captivating novel...[she] demonstrates considerable skill bringing the historical period to life. Mary’s world is nuanced and complicated, but the reader is thoroughly drawn into it, never lost. The narrative voice carries with it a seamless authority, rare in novels of this type.” — Oregonian
“Deftly integrating historical research into this gripping tale of adventure, love, and national conflict, Leveen brings Mary to life and evenhandedly reveals the humanity on both sides of America’s deadliest war.” — Publishers Weekly
“The Secrets of Mary Bowser is not only fascinating reading, but also historical fiction of the highest caliber.” — Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“Author Lois Leveen’s meticulously researched historical fiction is best consumed with sweet tea and a porch swing.” — DailyCandy.com
“This novel will sweep you into the world of Mary Bowser without making you feel as if you’re sitting in school instead of on the beach.” — Statesman Journal (Oregon)
Oregonian
Lois Leveen has written a captivating novel...[she] demonstrates considerable skill bringing the historical period to life. Mary’s world is nuanced and complicated, but the reader is thoroughly drawn into it, never lost. The narrative voice carries with it a seamless authority, rare in novels of this type.
Brunonia Barry
Masterfully written, The Secrets of Mary Bowser shines a new light onto our country’s darkest history. Balancing fire and grace, the story of Mary Bowser is an ethical journey we won’t soon forget, one that takes us from hatred to courage to love.
Kelly O'Connor McNees
The Secrets of Mary Bowser is a good old-fashioned historical novel packed with drama, intrigue, love, loss, and most of all, the resilience of a remarkable heroine who forges her own destiny from the first page. What a treat!
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Secrets of Mary Bowser is not only fascinating reading, but also historical fiction of the highest caliber.
Statesman Journal (Oregon)
This novel will sweep you into the world of Mary Bowser without making you feel as if you’re sitting in school instead of on the beach.
Naseem Rakha
Told with clarity, confidence, and courage, The Secrets of Mary Bowser illuminates an untold and important story about slavery, the Civil War, and the role of women in achieving emancipation. A riveting and powerful book.
DailyCandy.com
Author Lois Leveen’s meticulously researched historical fiction is best consumed with sweet tea and a porch swing.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Secrets of Mary Bowser is not only fascinating reading, but also historical fiction of the highest caliber.
Oregonian
Lois Leveen has written a captivating novel...[she] demonstrates considerable skill bringing the historical period to life. Mary’s world is nuanced and complicated, but the reader is thoroughly drawn into it, never lost. The narrative voice carries with it a seamless authority, rare in novels of this type.
OCTOBER 2012 - AudioFile
Mary Bowser is in an unusual position for a Civil War-era African-American. Born into slavery, she is freed and educated by her owner. Robin Miles gives Mary a gentle voice while vocally painting vivid contrasts with those she encounters in her new life. Miles crafts an amusing caricature of Mary’s rich beau and accurately delivers the brogue of a Scotsman. As a link in the Underground Railroad and a Union spy, Mary poses as a slave to Confederate first lady Varina Davis, who is sharply drawn by Miles as a spoiled, self-indulgent woman. This novel is a winner as delivered by a masterful narrator. J.J.B. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
Set free by her mistress, can a young slave find true freedom up North? Or will she discover that there is more than one way to be enslaved? Leveen's debut novel brings to life the true story of a young slave woman. Her abolitionist-leaning mistress, Bet Van Lew, sets Mary and her mother, Minnie, free. Yet Mary's father and Minnie's husband, Lewis, remains enslaved as a blacksmith to his master. So freedom proves more difficult than either woman had anticipated. Under Virginia law, Mary and her mother may stay in the Commonwealth only a year after being set free. After that mark, either could be resold into slavery. Unwilling to leave her husband, Minnie chooses a dangerous path of deception, pretending to still be a slave. Hoping for a better life for their daughter, Lewis and Minnie send her North to be educated in Philadelphia. Once north of the Mason-Dixon Line, Mary swiftly learns that racism persists, even among the freed slaves themselves. She gains a fine education and deep friendships. Yet Mary must also learn to negotiate the bewildering rules of living in a racist and classist society: being exiled to the Negro benches, enduring unwarranted insults and having to hide her own family's secrets. After her mother dies, Mary realizes that time is wasting. She begins to see clearly that true freedom depends on everyone being free. After rejecting a flattering--yet essentially insulting--marriage proposal, Mary discovers the courage to return to Virginia for her father, to work with the Underground Railroad for other slaves and even to spy for the Union army. And along the way, she finds true love. Deftly balancing history, romance and adventure, Leveen honors the life and historical importance of a brave, resourceful woman.
