American Queen

[L Verge]

My copy of American Queen: The Rise and Fall of Kate Chase Sprague, CivilWar "Belle of the North" and Gilded Age Woman of Scandal by John Oller arrived today. This may sound silly, but do you ever experience the feeling that you are going to enjoy a book from the moment you see it and touch it?

This has a very appealing front cover to the dust jacket, and the quality of the paper gives it that warm and fuzzy feel. There is a great section of photos, and the Prologue has already pulled me in. Great reviews on the back cover, including one from Kate's great-great grandson. Can't wait to get started.

[RJNorton]

"Haunted Statehouse Tour participants will have a “haunted and historical experience.” Statehouse staff members and volunteers will combine history and legend in this special family-friendly haunted Statehouse tour. Conductors will lead visitors through the dimly lit limestone corridors of the Ohio Statehouse by oil lantern light. Visitors will pass the ghost of President Lincoln in an unfinished dance with Kate Chase (former Ohio Governor Salmon P. Chase’s daughter), hear and see a weeping lady in gray and get a glimpse of a green and ghostly President felled by an assassin’s bullet. This historical tour is spooky but appropriate for all members of the family. The tour is most suitable for individuals over the age of 12"

The annual event is always sold out so I am afraid we missed it.

http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/news/haunt...ptember-10

[Gene C]

When we were in Springfield last weekend we could see the tour group for the Lincoln Ghost Tour.
Only the tour group sighted, no ghost showed up. Maybe next year.

http://illinoistimes.com/article-9020-ta...-life.html

Your book sounds interesting Laurie, hope you like it and I look forward to reading your review

[BettyO]

Quote:My copy of American Queen: The Rise and Fall of Kate Chase Sprague, CivilWar "Belle of the North" and Gilded Age Woman of Scandal by John Oller arrived today. This may sound silly, but do you ever experience the feeling that you are going to enjoy a book from the moment you see it and touch it?

Uh, Oh! Another trip to Barnes and Noble and another book to buy!! Thanks, Laurie! I'll be looking for this one as well..... sounds yummy! A warm and fuzzy feeling about books? Oh yes, definitely! Tom Bogar's book did the same last year - and this year it's Art Loux's!

On another note, that ghost tour sounds grand! I'd love to go on that.....love that sort of thing....

[Eva Elisabeth]

(10-19-2014 07:20 AM)Gene C Wrote:  Your book sounds interesting Laurie, hope you like it and I look forward to reading your review

Yes!!!

[L Verge]

(10-19-2014 05:32 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(10-19-2014 07:20 AM)Gene C Wrote:  Your book sounds interesting Laurie, hope you like it and I look forward to reading your review

Yes!!!

I've only read about sixty pages, but am enjoying it thoroughly. I'm not sure that it's going to fully change my opinions on either Salmon Chase or Kate; but at least I'm getting an idea as to what made them tick from an early age.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(I like the book cover btw.)

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(10-18-2014 05:50 PM)L Verge Wrote:  This may sound silly, but do you ever experience the feeling that you are going to enjoy a book from the moment you see it and touch it?

Just to add - this doesn't sound any bit silly, Laurie. That's how it usually works for me, and that's what I find so frustrating - not being able to thumb through all this history's literature, none of which is sold in German bookstores, for "inspiration". Amazon reviews have often failed and disappointed in this regard. And that's what I find so great about the forum. A book I bought upon forum members' recommendations has never turned out to be disappointing!!!

[L Verge]

I finished American Queen (biography of Kate Chase) today and loved and learned from every page. My opinion of Salmon Portland Chase - which wasn't high to begin with - went down a notch or two. The only thing that I did feel sorry for him about was his losing three wives and four of his six children.

As for Kate, I have new respect for her. She was a lady ahead of her time, but managed to handle life's situations the best she knew how. Her background was very similar to Mary Lincoln's while growing up, and both ladies were very intelligent and well-read for their day. Somehow Kate managed to retain her dignity and stay one step ahead of her adversaries - while Mary Lincoln let her emotions become too public.

The book is very well-written with lots of quotes from primary sources. It handles the political angles very well by making them understood instead of poli sci lessons. Great section of photos. I came to detest the three main men in Kate's life, however: her father, her husband, and her one acknowledged lover. All of them used her and abused her in their own way.

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(10-26-2014 06:15 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I finished American Queen (biography of Kate Chase) today and loved and learned from every page. My opinion of Salmon Portland Chase - which wasn't high to begin with - went down a notch or two. The only thing that I did feel sorry for him about was his losing three wives and four of his six children.

As for Kate, I have new respect for her. She was a lady ahead of her time, but managed to handle life's situations the best she knew how. Her background was very similar to Mary Lincoln's while growing up, and both ladies were very intelligent and well-read for their day. Somehow Kate managed to retain her dignity and stay one step ahead of her adversaries - while Mary Lincoln let her emotions become too public.

The book is very well-written with lots of quotes from primary sources. It handles the political angles very well by making them understood instead of poli sci lessons. Great section of photos. I came to detest the three main men in Kate's life, however: her father, her husband, and her one acknowledged lover. All of them used her and abused her in their own way.

I also never knew that Kate had four children, including one with special needs whom Kate tended to and did not use the Victorian way of sending her away or keeping her under lock and key. Kate's oldest child, her son Willie, committed suicide at age 25.

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(10-26-2014 06:15 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I finished American Queen (biography of Kate Chase) today and loved and learned from every page. My opinion of Salmon Portland Chase - which wasn't high to begin with - went down a notch or two. The only thing that I did feel sorry for him about was his losing three wives and four of his six children.

As for Kate, I have new respect for her. She was a lady ahead of her time, but managed to handle life's situations the best she knew how. Her background was very similar to Mary Lincoln's while growing up, and both ladies were very intelligent and well-read for their day. Somehow Kate managed to retain her dignity and stay one step ahead of her adversaries - while Mary Lincoln let her emotions become too public.

The book is very well-written with lots of quotes from primary sources. It handles the political angles very well by making them understood instead of poli sci lessons. Great section of photos. I came to detest the three main men in Kate's life, however: her father, her husband, and her one acknowledged lover. All of them used her and abused her in their own way.

I also never knew that Kate had four children, including one with special needs whom Kate tended to and did not use the Victorian way of sending her away or keeping her under lock and key. Kate's oldest child, her son Willie, committed suicide at age 25.

[Gencor]

(10-26-2014 06:15 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I finished American Queen (biography of Kate Chase) today and loved and learned from every page. My opinion of Salmon Portland Chase - which wasn't high to begin with - went down a notch or two. The only thing that I did feel sorry for him about was his losing three wives and four of his six children.

As for Kate, I have new respect for her. She was a lady ahead of her time, but managed to handle life's situations the best she knew how. Her background was very similar to Mary Lincoln's while growing up, and both ladies were very intelligent and well-read for their day. Somehow Kate managed to retain her dignity and stay one step ahead of her adversaries - while Mary Lincoln let her emotions become too public.

The book is very well-written with lots of quotes from primary sources. It handles the political angles very well by making them understood instead of poli sci lessons. Great section of photos. I came to detest the three main men in Kate's life, however: her father, her husband, and her one acknowledged lover. All of them used her and abused her in their own way.

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(10-26-2014 06:15 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I finished American Queen (biography of Kate Chase) today and loved and learned from every page. My opinion of Salmon Portland Chase - which wasn't high to begin with - went down a notch or two. The only thing that I did feel sorry for him about was his losing three wives and four of his six children.

As for Kate, I have new respect for her. She was a lady ahead of her time, but managed to handle life's situations the best she knew how. Her background was very similar to Mary Lincoln's while growing up, and both ladies were very intelligent and well-read for their day. Somehow Kate managed to retain her dignity and stay one step ahead of her adversaries - while Mary Lincoln let her emotions become too public.

The book is very well-written with lots of quotes from primary sources. It handles the political angles very well by making them understood instead of poli sci lessons. Great section of photos. I came to detest the three main men in Kate's life, however: her father, her husband, and her one acknowledged lover. All of them used her and abused her in their own way.

I also never knew that Kate had four children, including one with special needs whom Kate tended to and did not use the Victorian way of sending her away or keeping her under lock and key. Kate's oldest child, her son Willie, committed suicide at age 25.

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(10-26-2014 06:15 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I finished American Queen (biography of Kate Chase) today and loved and learned from every page. My opinion of Salmon Portland Chase - which wasn't high to begin with - went down a notch or two. The only thing that I did feel sorry for him about was his losing three wives and four of his six children.

As for Kate, I have new respect for her. She was a lady ahead of her time, but managed to handle life's situations the best she knew how. Her background was very similar to Mary Lincoln's while growing up, and both ladies were very intelligent and well-read for their day. Somehow Kate managed to retain her dignity and stay one step ahead of her adversaries - while Mary Lincoln let her emotions become too public.

The book is very well-written with lots of quotes from primary sources. It handles the political angles very well by making them understood instead of poli sci lessons. Great section of photos. I came to detest the three main men in Kate's life, however: her father, her husband, and her one acknowledged lover. All of them used her and abused her in their own way.

I also never knew that Kate had four children, including one with special needs whom Kate tended to and did not use the Victorian way of sending her away or keeping her under lock and key. Kate's oldest child, her son Willie, committed suicide at age 25.

I am so happy that you loved this book and learned so much more about Kate Chase! I have spent the summer reading about her and researching her history. This book comes the closest to actually telling her real story.

[RJNorton]

Welcome to the forum, Genna!

[BettyO]

Welcome to the Forum, Glencor! I have long admired Kate and American Queen is definitely on my reading list!

[Gencor]

Hello, everyone! I am new to this board and I look forward to posting with you all.

I have to say that I have been looking forward to reading this book all summer! I finally got it and I loved it! I have spent my summer reading everything I can about Kate Chase and I find that she is probably one of the most fascinating women of the 19th century, that I never knew about. I knew about her father, but really nothing about her at all. I don't understand why they always refer to her "rise and fall," however. Kate was truly a woman before her time. Probably because I am a modern woman, living in a time when anything is possible for women, I have a special appreciation for how this woman's strength pulled her through a time when women were so restricted. It is obvious that the men in her life let her down miserably and I believe her real story is how she survived the abuse with four children to raise. It seems to me that is her real story. Kate was one of the most brilliant women of her time and like alot of women made the wrong choice of a marriage partner but misunderstood, did not marry this man for his money as much as she really love him with all her heart. He was a miserable little man who womanized and drank himself into ruin and frankly, I believe that the "rise and fall" is more about him than Kate. He ruined all of their lives because of his serious but untreated Bi-Polar disorder and his drinking and womanizing ways. I believe that Kate suffered great physical and emotional harm living with this monster and it breaks my heart to think of the horrible influence he had on young Willie.

Kate Chase was strong willed woman who had strong convictions. I didn't see the sensation William caused over Conkling as anything but a demented fit that fed the newspapers. William was an abuser and he was boring and for someone like Kate, it wouldn't have come as a surprise that Conkling's politics and upcoming election for a possible presidential run, wouldn't have peeked her interest. I think that she was a political advisor to him and travelled with him for the purpose of helping to run his campaign and critic his speeches. While that may have been unheard of, I admired her for going for it. Afterall, it was better than being attacked in the night and forced upon by her demented husband. I did, however, blame Conkling for not cautioning her more about discretion and for not being much more discreet himself.

The fact that Kate wasn't rich when she died, was not her story. While that seemed to be what the tabloid type press coverage found so much more compelling, they missed her real story and it is a shame that it took all of this time to finally tell it and for us to really find out what a magnificent woman Kate Chase really was.

The truth is, the rise and fall and the entire sensation about Conkling was Sprague's pathetic story, separate from Kate.

The sadness about them as a couple is that this man had no appreciation for the blessing of his inheritance. He had no idea how to value an intelligent wife who could have helped him achieve the heights of success that people only dream about. But even more sad than any of this is the fact that he never could love her and give her and their children the lives that they so deserved. Instead, he ended up broken and living off of lesser women who controlled him, while he just walked away from any and all responsibility of even a son, whose life he just threw away.

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(10-29-2014 03:30 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Welcome to the forum, Genna!

Thanks so much! I am glad to be here!

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(10-29-2014 03:36 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Welcome to the Forum, Glencor! I have long admired Kate and American Queen is definitely on my reading list!

Thanks, Betty! I look forward to chatting with you. I loved this book and I do hope that you will read it. Kate was a fabulous woman before her time, that is for sure.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Welcome, Genna!
Laurie already has made me really want to read this book (and I will) although Kate Chase had not been on my mind before as someone to read an entire book about. I'm sure I won't be disappointed!
Genna, would you agree with Laurie who once posted Kate Chase and Mary Lincoln had much in common and due to this "rivality" didn't get well along with each other?

[L Verge]

Ah, Genna, I think you and I are going to be kindred spirits! I had fallen for the "traditional" history of bad-mouthing Kate Chase because I had not taken the time to study her from any viewpoint other than what we read about in her relationship with Mary Lincoln. I happen to think that Mrs. Lincoln has been maligned more than necessary by male historians, so I was easily prepared to dislike Kate.

After reading American Queen, I came away with the feeling that Kate was far superior to Mrs. Lincoln in many ways. She had the fortitude, education, and emotional control that any woman in politics should have -- and what (except for education) Mrs. Lincoln lacked. Frankly, I think Kate would have been a far better political candidate than either her father or her twerp of a husband! She had innate political skills.

Despite her strength, she doesn't come across as the self-centered Scarlett O'Hara of her day either. She spent her life working for men she loved and got kicked in the teeth by them. The chapter about how she had to escape with her children from the prison of her own home is as heart-wrenching as it gets.

If Mary Todd and Kate Chase had both grown up in the same town and attended the same boarding school, I bet they would have been good friends. If only Kate could have counseled Mrs. Lincoln later in life on how to maintain her dignity...

[Eva Elisabeth]

All I read about Kate Chase and her father implied or explicitly suggested she was the striving engine behind his career and the one who "made" him. Do you think the same, Laurie and Genna?