Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

Elizabeth Keckly started life as a slave, used her sewing skills to buy her freedom and eventually became the dressmaker for Mary Todd Lincoln, Mrs. Jefferson Davis, the daughters of Andrew Johnson and a host of Washington society mavens. She also became a close confidant of Mrs. Lincoln's. It's a fascinating story and an interesting book--though it starts with an adult Elizabeth working as a seamstress in Washington, and just periodically refers back to her slavery days, how she was raped and became pregnant, what happened to her husband, etc. At times it was a little jarring--as if I had forgotten to read the beginning of the book. I kind of wish the author had told the story in true chronological order because it would have had even more impact--showing how much this woman accomplished from such humble beginnings.