Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker is a historical fiction novel written by Jennifer Chiaverini.  The book just released at the beginning of this year! The story follows the life of a young African American woman through the Civil War.  After saving enough money to buy her and her son's freedom, after 40 years in slavery, Elizabeth moves to Washington D.C. where she starts her own dressmaking business.  She is very talented at her craft and soon acquires rather prestigious patrons.  Eventually, word spreads to the White House and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln hires her to make a dress for a special event.  Mrs. Lincoln fell in love with her work and hired her to make all of her dresses thereafter.  Elizabeth becomes more than a dressmaker to Mrs. Lincoln, as she confides in her like a trusted friend.  Elizabeth finds herself consoling and supporting Mrs. Lincoln through several tragedies including the deaths of her son and husband.  This novel gives an interesting perspective of life in the White House, President Lincoln, free African Americans, and slaves during the Civil War Era.