Lois Romano: "An Inconvenient Widow"

Mary Lincoln was at the center of politics at a time when society’s expectations for women were rigid and circumscribed. The product of Southern aristocracy, she grew up among an influential clan of politicians and elites who founded Lexington, Kentucky. Mary’s early exposure to the male-dominated world of politics instilled in her a keen political acumen and a fierce ambition. Proclaiming as a child that she was destined to become the wife of a president, she played a crucial role in boosting her husband to greatness.

But her hopes for a triumphant experience at the pinnacle of power were lost to the Civil War and unfathomable family tragedies. Still, Mary persevered. She steadfastly supported the Union war effort, visited encampments, tended to wounded soldiers, and generously donated money and gifts to refugees from slavery. She was an unconventional, larger-than-life character who dressed too ostentatiously, grieved too publicly, suffered a shopping addiction, and seemed unable or unwilling to corral her emotions, her temper, and her opinions. She made enemies—influential men who wrote her story for her, often unfairly. After Lincoln was assassinated, she was all but abandoned by the nation he had given his life to defend and preserve.

Former Washington Post writer and columnist Lois Romano rectifies the tortured legacy of Mary Todd Lincoln, who was failed at nearly every turn in her widowhood—by her family, by her government, by medical professionals ill-equipped to diagnose her mental illness, and finally, by history. Romano draws on hundreds of archives, letters, and memoirs to provide the most complete portrait—of not simply of an inconvenient widow, but of a brilliant and flawed woman, who possessed uncommon tenacity in the face of extraordinary adversity and personal torment, and helped launch one of America’s greatest presidents.

Lois Romano will be joined in conversation by Baltimore Banner Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper.

About the Author:

Lois Romano is a national journalist and New York Times bestselling author whose work has illuminated some of the most newsworthy figures and moments in American history and public life. Over the course of a distinguished career, Lois has reported for the Washington Post, Politico, and Newsweek, earning a reputation for insightful storytelling, meticulous research, and a remarkable ability to bring political and historical figures vividly to life.

Her new book, An Inconvenient Widow: The Torment, Trial and Triumph of Mary Todd Lincoln, has been widely praised for its fresh, nuanced portrait of one of America's most misunderstood First Ladies. Through exhaustive research and compelling narrative, Lois invites readers to reconsider Mary Lincoln's life, struggles, and legacy with empathy and historical perspective. The biography reflects her insight into the interplay between politics and the human condition, revealing the complex life of a First Lady who navigated personal turmoil and public scrutiny to play a central role at the most consequential moment in our nation’s history. The book's success has resonated with readers across the country, earning Lois laudatory reviews in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The New Yorker, cementing her place among today's leading biographers.

About the Moderator:

Audrey Cooper is the editorial director of the Venetoulis Institute, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization devoted to saving local news. In this role she oversees the editorial strategy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and also serves as Editor in Chief of The Baltimore Banner.

About the Program:

• Doors will open to registered attendees at 6 pm.
• A local bookseller will be on-site and have books available for purchase.
• Free parking vouchers are available to program attendees who park at the Franklin Street Garage (15 W. Franklin Street) after 4pm. Ask Pratt event staff for your parking voucher prior to or after the program.
• This is a seated event with spaces reserved for individuals with accessibility needs. ASL interpretation will also be available for attendees throughout the event. If you need additional accommodations to successfully participate, please let us know at [email protected] or 443-768-0762.
• There is no registration required for virtual attendance, simply visit the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Facebook or Youtube page.