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Strength And Honor: The Life Of Dolley Madison
Based on more than two thousand of Dolley Payne Todd Madison's letters and accompanied by period illustrations, offers a biography of the popular First Lady who was renowned as a hostess and heroine of the War of 1812.
444 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 26, 2025
This is a biography of one of America's most enduringly popular first ladies, Dolley Madison. We learn of Dolley's Quaker beginnings. We read of her first marriage to John Todd. Sadly, Dolley would lose him and one of their sons on the same day when they died of yellow fever. Dolley picked up the pieces of her life and eventually met and married James Madison, who provided her with a comfortable living. She also broke with the Quakers at this time. Her marriage to Madison catapulted Dolley onto the national stage and immortalized her forever.
One of the drawbacks of this book, I think, is the constant mentioning of her extended family. Dolley's family tree is huge and complex. However, we did not need to read about it here. The same can be said for James Madison's family. Too much. The book gets supremely interesting when Dolley moves to Washington and becomes a mover and shaker of society. Her saving of Washington's portrait from the British is excellent reading, as is the way she totally redefined the role of First Lady.
After Madison's death, Dolley strove to make sure his legacy endured. She went into near poverty paying off her son's gambling debts and keeping up her husband's plantation. The book is hurriedly ended. Barely a mention is made of Dolley's relationships with other first families. She maintained good relationships with a great many of her successors in the White House, but you wouldn't know it from this book.
A good book if you are looking for a general overview about the life of Dolley Madison, but it is far from complete.
One of the drawbacks of this book, I think, is the constant mentioning of her extended family. Dolley's family tree is huge and complex. However, we did not need to read about it here. The same can be said for James Madison's family. Too much. The book gets supremely interesting when Dolley moves to Washington and becomes a mover and shaker of society. Her saving of Washington's portrait from the British is excellent reading, as is the way she totally redefined the role of First Lady.
After Madison's death, Dolley strove to make sure his legacy endured. She went into near poverty paying off her son's gambling debts and keeping up her husband's plantation. The book is hurriedly ended. Barely a mention is made of Dolley's relationships with other first families. She maintained good relationships with a great many of her successors in the White House, but you wouldn't know it from this book.
A good book if you are looking for a general overview about the life of Dolley Madison, but it is far from complete.
September 17, 2025
Based on more than two thousand of Dolley Payne Todd Madison's letters and accompanied by period illustrations, offers a biography of the popular First Lady who was renowned as a hostess and heroine of the War of 1812. She was an amazing and gracious woman. If you're an American history enthusiast you're apt to enjoy this read.
March 7, 2011
Growing up I always remember reading about the rose garden that Dolley Madison planted during her tenure in the white house. When i found this book by chance, I was looking forward to learning more about this woman. I was not disappointed. This book was fun to read, informative and shows how truly amazing she was. It is due to her courage and stubbornness that we still have the famous portrait of George Washington painted by Gilbert Stuart. In addition the book shows what a loving and supportive wife she was to the fourth president James Madison both before, during and after his tenure in the White House.
April 28, 2010
I don't know how much of this I will read but I am at least reading part of it for my hero report.
Uptated:
I am done with this for right now. I've read about as much as I need to for my Hero report(which is done THANK GOODNESS!!!!) Dolley's life is so interesting and I would love to learn more about her so I wouldn't be suprised if I pick it up again!
As for the actual book, the language is great. I love this author and would love to read more of his works, he has one on Theodosia Burr aron Burr's daughter(I think) so I look at that one.
Uptated:
I am done with this for right now. I've read about as much as I need to for my Hero report(which is done THANK GOODNESS!!!!) Dolley's life is so interesting and I would love to learn more about her so I wouldn't be suprised if I pick it up again!
As for the actual book, the language is great. I love this author and would love to read more of his works, he has one on Theodosia Burr aron Burr's daughter(I think) so I look at that one.
October 28, 2013
I became engrossed in this biography of Dolley Madison, because Cote is a gifted writer of history. I learned that she was the first arbiter of taste in Washington City, because Jefferson invited her, as wife of his Secretary of State, James Madison, to host functions at the White House during two terms in office. Then she occupied the White House as Presidentress (the title of First Lady came much letter) for an additional 1 1/2 terms, until the British burned it during the War of 1812. She lived a long life and her popularity seemed to increase the longer she lived.
May 12, 2014
It is engaging. Dolley Madison went from being among the first families of Virginia to being the First Lady of the United States. She rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, and she also had all of the vicissitudes of love and loss that is family life. She was a charming hostess, one that we would all have enjoyed meeting. For that reason, I enjoyed a quiet few hours reading about her. However, hers is not a life I would ever hope to emulate.
May 31, 2016
Cote is a good writer, weaving an engaging story from facts, correspondence and details pertinent to the Era in which Mrs. Madison lived. Many interesting tidbits come to light. For example, I was unaware that Dolley spelled her name with an "e. Also, I did not realize that she served as White House hostess during Jefferson's presidency. Those 8 years, plus the 8 serving with her husband must surely make her the longest serving "First Lady". Easy to read and worth reading.
June 30, 2008
I've read every book Richard Cote has written, and they never fail to fascinate me. He has a very clear and accessible writing style. Although I was never particularly interested in Dolley Madison, I couldn't put this down.
September 17, 2009
This biography appeared to be meticulously researched, but read like a legal document with the amount of footnotes and asides. Dolley Madison was a fascinating woman, but the interesting anecdotes about her get lost in the wall of citations noting where the stories came from.
July 13, 2008
A readable and informative biography of Dolley Payne Todd Madison. Not only does it follow her life but also provides context for her world and that of her second husband, James Madison, Jr.
July 4, 2011
What a WONDERFUL book! I truly feel like I know Dolley Madison personally after reading this book. What an incredible woman.
June 12, 2014
Book club pick for April
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews