Is An Inconvenient Widow Worth Reading?
The Life of Mary Todd Lincoln
by Lois Romano
Ada’s Score
Romano reexamines Mary Todd Lincoln, the much-maligned first lady, with archival care and an evident desire to rehabilitate her reputation. The research is solid and the portrait sympathetic, recovering a woman flattened by history. But the rehabilitative agenda sometimes tips into special pleading, smoothing contradictions that a tougher biographer would sit inside, and the prose is workmanlike rather than vivid.
Biography Pick“Solid research and a genuine corrective, but the defense sometimes shades into special pleading. The prose informs more than it dazzles.”
Reclaiming Mary Todd
Romano sets out to rescue Mary Todd Lincoln from a century of caricature, and the research is careful and persuasive. I appreciated the sympathy — though now and then the defense leans so hard that I wished Romano would let her subject be contradictory and human. Still, if you've only known the cartoon version, this restores a real woman to the frame.
Ada Brief
AI reading intelligence“Solid research and a genuine corrective, but the defense sometimes shades into special pleading. The prose informs more than it dazzles.”
Reclaiming Mary Todd
Romano sets out to rescue Mary Todd Lincoln from a century of caricature, and the research is careful and persuasive. I appreciated the sympathy — though now and then the defense leans so hard that I wished Romano would let her subject be contradictory and human. Still, if you've only known the cartoon version, this restores a real woman to the frame.
Ada’s reservations
Romano's rehabilitative agenda occasionally tips into special pleading, smoothing contradictions a tougher biographer would sit inside; the prose is workmanlike. Anyone wanting a complicated portrait will want more friction. The corrective is deserved.
Ada’s score reflects both strengths and reservations.
Book Details
- Language
- English
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Ada’s Score
3.9
Ada’s editorial score — not an aggregate of reader reviews.
Common Questions About An Inconvenient Widow
- Is An Inconvenient Widow worth reading?
- Solid research and a genuine corrective, but the defense sometimes shades into special pleading. The prose informs more than it dazzles. Ada rates it 3.9 out of 5.
- What are the main weaknesses of An Inconvenient Widow?
- Romano's rehabilitative agenda occasionally tips into special pleading, smoothing contradictions a tougher biographer would sit inside; the prose is workmanlike. Anyone wanting a complicated portrait will want more friction. The corrective is deserved.
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