Here's What Other Readers and 
 Abraham Lincoln Fans Are
 Saying about Loving Mr. Lincoln:

Ingenious! Beautiful writing! Captivating! A fascinating account of America’s most controversial First Lady.
—Dr. Eugene Griessman, author of “The Words Lincoln Lived By”

An engaging idea. Sensitive appreciation of Mary Todd Lincoln and good descriptions of Mr. Lincoln. The mechanism of a diary for a modern reader is unique, and the chapters are lively. The book reflects both the person and the age. Measured against the odds she faced, Mary Todd Lincoln deserves to be remembered as an important part of Abraham Lincoln’s life, and I'm pleased that Kay duPont has reminded us of this.
—Dr. Jean H. Baker, Goucher College, author of “Mary Todd Lincoln” and 3 other books on the Civil War period                            

Kay has obviously done a lot of research and certainly has an imaginative idea of what to do with it. She ably captures what many would take to be Mary Lincoln’s personality and character, warts and all.
—William C. Davis, Center for Civil War Studies, Virginia Tech, author of “Lincoln’s Men” and more than 25 other books on the Civil War era

If Mary Todd Lincoln had kept a diary, it might have read very much like Kay duPont’s fictional representation. Offering new insights on both Mary and Abraham Lincoln, Loving Mr. Lincoln is a poignant and gripping story of their life together facing personal tribulations and national crises.
—Dr. James M. McPherson, Princeton University, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller “Crossroads of Freedom” and more than a dozen other Civil War era books
 

Everyone loves Abraham Lincoln and everyone wants to know the real power behind the greatest presidential leader of all time. Kay duPont has written Mary Todd Lincoln’s story in a captivating, page-turning style that will wow your soul.
—Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator of the #1 New York Times best-selling series “Chicken Soup for the Soul”® and co-author of “The One Minute Millionaire”

Loving Mr. Lincoln is an intriguing approach to an intriguing story. Interesting. Fun.
—Samuel L. Waltz Jr., APR; Fellow PRSA; President, Sam Waltz & Associates; President, Lincoln Club of Delaware

Step back into history with M. Kay duPont’s new book, Loving Mr. Lincoln: The Personal Diaries of Mary Todd Lincoln. The author has done a marvelous job of capturing all the historically accurate details of the Civil War era, and gives us insights into an extraordinary woman who had the vision and influence of Eleanor Roosevelt, the social impact of Jacqueline Kennedy, the political acumen and ambition of Hilary Clinton, and the pioneering spirit of Anne Morrow Lindbergh. You’ll lose yourself in this fascinating story of a woman who was ahead of her time…a woman who was every bit as capable as the man she married and propelled into becoming one of our most respected American presidents. Read it and reap.
—Sam Horn, author of “Tongue Fu!” and “Take the Bully by the Horns”

duPont has done a great job here. She has clearly defined Mary Todd Lincoln in a way that has not ever been done. She made both the Lincolns warm, loving and real people. That, as opposed to those stiff figures we see in the history books in black and white. The book is an excellent read.
—Richard Freeman, Lincoln and Civil War Presentations

Charming. I didn't ever expect diaries could be so interesting. Bravo! Timely reading in this election season.
—Barbara McNichol, author of "The Door Opener: How Persuasive Writing Opens Doors to Your Dreams!"

From Barbara's newsletter, The Door Opener: My fun-with-words radar has been picking up chiasmus, a "forward and backward” form of expression, everywhere. Here’s one from Loving Mr. Lincoln by M. Kay duPont – a wonderfully written historic look at a First Lady’s drive to get her husband elected to the Presidency in 1860:  “Will I find a way to kill time or will time find a way to kill me?”

I am thoroughly enjoying this book and look forward to having Ms. duPont attend our book club meeting.
—sue.carver@weyerhaeuser.com

I just finished reading Loving Mr. Lincoln and I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. It held my interest from the first sentence to the last. I was fascinated by Mrs. Lincoln. Thank you for taking on this project and producing such a well-written, intimate and realistic look into her life. My mother wants to read it now.
—lisansadie@earthlink.net

I was browsing my wife's bookshelf the other day and found two volumes of your book. Being a Lincoln fan, I plunged in to Mary's diary. Wow! I am so impressed with the incredible insight into what she and Abe might have been thinking and feeling. This is so tender, so endearing, that I can hardly put it down. I am only 40 pages in, but I am so honored to share the experience! —DoctorRon@gci.net

Your book is so enlightening.  I truly enjoyed it and feel that I have had an "inside peek" into the lives of these 2 Americans that had such pivotal roles in the history of our country.  You made me forget that I WASN'T actually reading her diary. 
             I shook my head when I read Mary's comment (early in the book) about her mother and father being first cousins and "she was perfectly fine". Well, I could already see that she WASN'T fine - of course not retarded by any means but with other problems.  Certainly, bipolar disorder is extremely difficult to treat even today - you can only image how hard it must have been at that time.  Then, combined with dear Mr. Lincoln's known depression, the war, their rejected "social status" etc., it is amazing the love that they shared for each other was able to endure.  I have long empathized with Lincoln's quote that you included in the book about being a most miserable man (and I'm not getting this just right, but) - that if each person on earth shared a portion of his grief that there would not be a smiling face to be found. 
           BRAVO!!!  A job wonderfully done.  —Diane Tennihan

Hi Kay, I am leading the discussion for two different book club studies of your book, Loving Mr.

 AMAZON.COM REVIEWS:
Enjoyable, Educational, Engaging.  As the saying goes, "Behind every successful man is a woman." And many adjectives have been used to describe those women and their ways. They could probably all apply to Mary Todd Lincoln, the woman behind the 16th President of the United States. Abraham Lincoln has been the subject of a considerable amount of historical writing, both fiction and non-fiction.
          Loving Mr. Lincoln is beautifully written, captivating historical fiction. The reader is asked to believe that Mary Todd Lincoln's diaries were discovered in an old trunk purchased at a flea market. The tale is certainly feasible, grabbing the reader's attention immediately.
          What follows is a representation of what Mary Todd's diary might have been from December 13, 1939, to the day her husband was shot at Ford's Theatre, April 15, 1865. In between, the reader will find page after fascinating page of dated diary entry records that seem awfully real. As in any well-written historical fiction, I couldn't tell you for sure if what I was reading was actually written by Mary Lincoln.
          Frankly, the more I read, the less I cared about who wrote the words, the alleged diarist or Kay duPont. I was hooked. The experience of viewing history through the eyes of this controversial figure was intriguing. I learned a lot, gained a deeper appreciation for the human side of history, and saw the Lincoln legend from a new perspective. The author has obviously done her homework.
          After you read this book, you'll be telling others how much you enjoyed it. You'll probably agree with the Georgia Writers Association that Loving Mr. Lincoln deserves the recognition they bestowed as the winner of their Members Fiction Award. Prepare to be engaged from the first page!

Roger E. Herman from Greensboro, NC USA

Fact or Fiction? Who would know? Who knew what a romantic and visionary Mary Todd Lincoln was? Whether fact or fiction M. Kay duPont gives us a powerful and at times "delicious" insights of a (much) misunderstood era of American history. duPont gives the reader an easy to read story of a very complex, strong and driven woman. One who became a power, if not the power, behind a President. Mary Todd Lincoln comes alive in this book. You will grow to admire her, want to comfort her in your arms...while scolding her at the same time. duPont gives you insightful compassions of her struggles and tragic personal losses. The reader will come to appreciate these struggles (she) and our country went through during this era of American history. Most of all the reader may come to realize that had Mary Todd been a woman of the 21st Century, (perhaps) Mr. Lincoln would be known as the man behind her. Good luck with future publications, wish you all the success you deserve.
Paula Eichner from Sunset, SC 29685

Loving Mr. Lincoln: LONG OVERDUE! This book is long overdue. There's so much written about Abraham and so little written about Mary. Throughout history, Mary has been maligned for her excessive shopping, manic-depressive behavior and frigidity. This book puts her behavior in perspective...and reveals quite a robust and lustful sexual liaison with Abe. Equally important is the insight gained about Abe, his many physical disabilities and his reluctance to run for political office. A well-woven story.
Maureen Carter from Smyrna, GA

  Kay duPont has done a great job with Mary Todd Lincoln. As a lifelong student of Abraham Lincoln, I am aware of the fact that Mary Todd was an intelligent, well educated and polished lady. Kay duPont has done a superb job of making Mary a human being--like the rest of us--while not losing any of her strengths or good points. Most of us who have studied Lincoln are aware that he married a well educated, strong willed and politically oriented lady. This book puts a good deal of that background and Mary Todd's role in Mr. Lincoln's rise through the ranks to the peak as a President, into perspective. Great read! Yes, she is still strong and a bit stubborn, but what a lady she was. This book is an easy read and one that any student of Lincoln should add to his/her library.
Richard G. Freeman from Alpharetta, GA

Great Book! I loved this book! It made the Lincolns come alive for me, and I felt so many times as though I were in her shoes. The descriptions are great, and make you feel as though you are right there. Wonderful appreciation and understanding of Mary and her life with her husband. Too many people dismiss her as a crazy woman who only caused trouble for her husband; they never look beyond the rumors and stories and realize that there was immense love and strength behind it all. Lincoln was too smart to marry a woman he did not love. A must-have for Lincoln fans and for anyone interested in learning more about him as a father, husband, lover, and friend.
Katie from New York, NY 

Age-Old Questions About Mary Lincoln Answered! Wonderful! Great word pictures and descriptions. I've always wondered why Mary Lincoln did the things she did, and now I know. Any Lincoln fan should read this book immediately.
Nancy Rainey from Pittsburgh, PA

The Characters Jump Off the Page! I am an avid reader and I am always halfway through one book or another. When I purchased Kay duPont's book, my plan was to start it sooner or later, after I had completed a few other books. Well, I happened to open the book and read a few of Mary Todd Lincoln's musings--and I was hooked!
          I am progressing through the book one or two chapters per evening and loving every minute of it! I find that Kay's use of language creates pictures in my mind; I can hear the swish of Mary's ballgown, smell the food cooking or see the Lincoln's son playing on the lawn. I can feel Mary's mood swings and her loneliness as her beloved Abraham leaves for yet another business trip. Both the characters have come alive for me. In my opinion, M. Kay duPont should have turned her talents to historical fiction years ago - the reading world has long needed her literary talents.
jean8982 from Atlanta, GA

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