Adults

This month we are reading "The Spymistress" by Jennifer Chiaverini.

Fiction

Digital copies are available through Libby and Hoopla and limited regular print, large print and audiobooks can be picked up at the library's circulation desk.

Book Description:

Born to slave-holding aristocracy in Richmond, Virginia, and educated by Northern Quakers, Elizabeth Van Lew was a paradox of her time. When her native state seceded in April 1861, Van Lew's convictions compelled her to defy the new Confederate regime. Pledging her loyalty to the Lincoln White House, her courage would never waver, even as her wartime actions threatened not only her reputation, but also her life. Van Lew's skills in gathering military intelligence were unparalleled. She helped to construct the Richmond Underground and orchestrated escapes from the infamous Confederate Libby Prison under the guise of humanitarian aid. Her spy ring's reach was vast, from clerks in the Confederate War and Navy Departments to the very home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Although Van Lew was inducted posthumously into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, the astonishing scope of her achievements has never been widely known.

Know Before You Go

You are welcome to attend even if you haven't finished the book.

This event is in-person.

Please inform Library staff prior to or during the event if you do not want to be in photos and videos. Review the full Photography and Recording Policy.