Author: Tracey Enerson Wood
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 346
Synopsis: From the USA Today bestselling author of The Engineer's Wife comes an incredible historical novel about the First Lady who clandestinely assumed the presidency.
Socialite Edith Bolling has been in no hurry to find a new husband since she was widowed, preferring to fill her days with good friends and travel. But the enchanting courting of President Woodrow Wilson wins Edith over and she becomes the First Lady of the United States. The position is uncomfortable for the fiercely independent Edith, but she's determined to rise to the challenges of her new marriage—from the bloodthirsty press to the shadows of the first World War.
Warming to her new role, Edith is soon indispensable to her husband's presidency. She replaces the staff that Woodrow finds distracting, and discusses policy with him daily. Throughout the war, she encrypts top- secret messages and despite lacking formal education becomes an important adviser. When peace talks begin in Europe, she attends at Woodrow's side. But just as the critical fight to ratify the treaty to end the war and create a League of Nations in order to prevent another, Woodrow's always-delicate health takes a dramatic turn for the worse. In her determination to preserve both his progress and his reputation, Edith all but assumes the presidency herself.
Now, Edith must contend with the demands of a tumultuous country, the secrets of Woodrow's true condition, and the potentially devastating consequences of her failure. At once sweeping and intimate, The President's Wife is an astonishing portrait of a courageous First Lady and the sacrifices she made to protect her husband and her country at all costs.
My Review: Edith Wilson was the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson and the First Lady of the United States. Her claim to fame was that she hid the news of the president’s health for the last few months of his presidency. She was also known for running the government in his stead. In this historical novel, it tells the love story between President Woodrow Wilson and his second wife. It also tells how Edith tries hard to protect his reputation, even taking on the presidency herself.
Before reading this novel, I did not know much about Edith Wilson. In the beginning, she was a widow who yearned to hang out with her friends and travel the world. She meets Woodrow Wilson and gradually falls in love with him. I love her loyalty to Woodrow Wilson. It is clear that while she made many questionable choices, she had a deep love for him. I was surprised that she was not a feminist and was against the women's suffrage movement. Thus, she was fascinating enough to keep me reading.
Overall, this novel is about love, choices, and family. I thought all of the characters seemed very realistic. I found Woodrow Wilson to be the most developed character. He had a strong, possessive love for Edith. I also thought the novel was very well-written and meticulously researched! I felt I was walking alongside Edith Wilson! Even though I liked the novel, there were a few drawbacks. I thought the novel was very slow-paced. I also wanted more pages of Edith Wilson acting as the unofficial president. Nevertheless, The President’s Wife was a delight to read! I recommend this for fans of American First Ladies! I also recommend this for fans of American Princess, If a Poem Could Live and Breathe, and Jacquline in Paris! The President’s Wife is a feast for historical fiction lovers that should not be missed!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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