Book

Oller, John, author.

American queen : the rise and fall of Kate Chase Sprague, Civil War "Belle of the North" and gilded age woman of scandal / John Oller.

Boston, MA : Da Capo Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group, [2014]

xxiii, 376 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

In this beautifully written and meticulously researched biography, John Oller captures the tumultuous, passionate, and ultimately tragic life of Kate Chase Sprague, Mary Lincoln's ambitious rival.

Sprague, Kate Chase, 1840-1899.

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873.

Sprague, William, 1830-1915.

Socialites -- United States -- Biography.

United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-361) and index.

Prologue: A woman in the arena -- Miss Chase. "Qualified to ornament any society" ; "I shall strive to be first wherever I may be" ; "How short then is this life!" ; The belle of Columbus ; The belle of Washington ; The boy governor ; Mrs. Lincoln's rival ; Wedding of the decade -- Mrs. Sprague. "Imagine my disappointment" ; "Our accomplished countrywoman" ; "More unfitness day by day" ; "I am told that she actually controls the entire affair" ; "You have been most cruelly deceived" ; "I almost hate this man" ; "She's capable of hitting him" ; Some dared call it treason ; End of an era ; End of an empire ; "Intended by their creator for each other" ; "Mrs. Conkling is not here this winter" ; "The Now notorious outbreak" ; "The bird has flown" -- Kate Chase again. "A dinner with the queen" ; "As much alone as Cleopatra" ; Gilded Age woman ; Stalwart woman ; An unmarried woman ; An independent woman ; "What we have is good" ; "None outshone her".

2014012054

9780306822803

0306822806

881387244

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BIO Sprague