Behind the Scenes; or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House

<p>Behind the Scenes or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House is Elizabeth Keckley's compelling memoir of her life offering a unique perspective on American history. As a former slave who purchased her freedom Keckley's journey took her from the bonds of slavery to the heart of the Lincoln administration. Her experiences as a successful seamstress led her to the White House where she became a trusted confidante and dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln. <p/>This autobiography provides invaluable insight into the lives of African American women during a tumultuous period including the Civil War. Keckley's narrative sheds light on the complexities of race class and power in 19th-century America revealing the personal stories behind historical events. Her account offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Lincoln White House making it a significant historical document.<br></p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>