Mary Todd Lincoln by Jean Baker

[RJNorton]

Regarding Mary's attempted suicide, "This unlikely tale first appeared in a newspaper owned by Robert Lincoln's former law partner and was more a son's exculpation of filial treachery than a mother's demonstration of suicidal tendencies" (page 328, with several good reasons given)

Wonderful post on Baker's book, Gene. I do know that the view that Mary's suicide attempt was actually unlikely is not shared by all authors. For anyone who would like to read a different opinion please see pp. 67-70 of Jason Emerson's The Madness of Mary Lincoln. Jason gives numerous reasons why he feels the suicide attempt was indeed "a serious attempt to take her own life."