Spymistress Van Lew

[S.Lillie]

I am interested in conversing with anyone who has studied the contributions of Elizabeth Van Lew - Union spymistress of Richmond Va. She saw herself as the true patriot and those wanting secession as "bordering on madness". She was proud of Va's place in the founding of the US and dismayed with those who wanted to dismantle it. She also opposed slavery, although was bound to keep her enslaved servants by her late father's Will.
I have read a fictional account of her life, "Spymistress" which led me to "Lincoln's Spies" which covered Pinkerton, Baker and Sharpe as well.
I am interested in any other resources on her or other spies, both Union and Confederate. Would love to know if anything in Richmond honors her.

 

[Library Lady]

There's a fairly new book out on Elizabeth Van Lew: Lincoln's Lady Spymaster by Gerri Willis.

LINCOLN'S LADY SPYMASTER | Kirkus Reviews

An unlikely spy.

www.kirkusreviews.com

Southern Lady, Yankee Spy by Elizabeth R. Varon is another nonfiction book on Elizabeth Van Lew which came out in 2005.

Varon, Elizabeth / Southern Lady Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy

Elizabeth R. Varon is Langbourne M. Williams Professor of American History and a member of the Executive Council of the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia.Northern sympathizer in the Confederate capital, daring spymaster, postwar politician: Elizabeth Van...

www.uvabookstores.com

Ms. Van Lew's diary is available as A Yankee Spy in Richmond: The Civil War Diary of "Crazy Bet" Van Lew edited by David D. Ryan.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Yankee-Spy-in-Richmond/David-D-Ryan/Stackpole-Classics/9780811729994

If you'd like another novel about Elizabeth Van Lew there is Only Call Us Faithful by Marie Jakober. It won the Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction in 2002.

ONLY CALL US FAITHFUL | Kirkus Reviews

A historical thriller from Canadian Jakober (The Black Chalice, not reviewed) follows the exploits (based partly on a true story) of a Richmond belle who spied for the Union during the Civil War.

www.kirkusreviews.com

 

[S.Lillie]

There's a fairly new book out on Elizabeth Van Lew: Lincoln's Lady Spymaster by Gerri Willis.

LINCOLN'S LADY SPYMASTER | Kirkus Reviews

An unlikely spy.

www.kirkusreviews.com

Southern Lady, Yankee Spy by Elizabeth R. Varon is another nonfiction book on Elizabeth Van Lew which came out in 2005.

Varon, Elizabeth / Southern Lady Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy

Elizabeth R. Varon is Langbourne M. Williams Professor of American History and a member of the Executive Council of the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia.Northern sympathizer in the Confederate capital, daring spymaster, postwar politician: Elizabeth Van...

www.uvabookstores.com

Ms. Van Lew's diary is available as A Yankee Spy in Richmond: The Civil War Diary of "Crazy Bet" Van Lew edited by David D. Ryan.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Yankee-Spy-in-Richmond/David-D-Ryan/Stackpole-Classics/9780811729994

If you'd like another novel about Elizabeth Van Lew there is Only Call Us Faithful by Marie Jakober. It won the Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction in 2002.

ONLY CALL US FAITHFUL | Kirkus Reviews

A historical thriller from Canadian Jakober (The Black Chalice, not reviewed) follows the exploits (based partly on a true story) of a Richmond belle who spied for the Union during the Civil War.

www.kirkusreviews.com

Thank you. I have read Southern Lady, Yankee Spy. it was quite good, I thought. i will definitely look for her diary. I'd like to create a version of her story for young kids,