Such a Woman: The Life of Madame Octavia Walton LeVert

by Paula Lenor Webb

Edgar Allan Poe dedicated a poem to her, Henry Clay discussed politics with her, Queen Victoria welcomed her before her royal court. Finally, Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, described her, “A woman such as appears but once in the course of an empire.”
Who was this woman? Madame Octavia Walton LeVert was the granddaughter of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the daughter of the first Secretary for Florida, and the first woman to represent the United States outside the country. Yet, few have heard of her outside the place she lived the longest, Mobile, Alabama.
The newly published book by Intellect Publishing, titled, Such a Woman: The Life of Madame Octavia Walton LeVert, is the efforts of Author & Librarian Paula Lenor Webb to discover the story of this intellectual woman. Webb’s research revealed a unique person who was able to publish her own book, Souvenirs of Travel and helped save Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, from ruin. Madame Octavia Walton LeVert rose to fame and prominence in the Society she loved until the Civil War changed it all.
For further information, please contact Intellect Publishing, LLC.
Author Paula Webb is available for speaking engagements and book signings.
About Intellect Publishing, LLC.
Intellect Publishing is a ‘micro’ publisher in business for over twelve years and has published almost one-hundred and twenty books, including many which have won national awards.

375 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Viola Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was researched, but the truly seminal moments in the account of Octavia LeVert's life and that of her community devolve into a recitation of social events. For over two hundred pages, we are treated to details of her social calendar. Hearing about her meeting and friendships with various people was interesting. She knew Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and Confederate Gen. Beauregard--to name a few; however, the analysis of her controversial position on the Civil War comes late in the book and the reasons for her support of the Union receive only a cursory commentary. I'd hoped for something more detailed and academic.

[SK Hinkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative. I would recommend this to anyone who loves history especially woman's history.

[Georgia Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Octavia's story is a truly amazing one, her life is so interesting. All the connections she had, she truly was a thread that connected so much about her time. It was a very honest story though, she burned brightly, but her flame flickered out, as the end of her story is a sad one, very real, but sad. The story and content is why I'm giving this 5 stars, the writing is more around 2, the vibe was very much "research paper." If the writing flowed better this book could be one to read everywhere.

[Christie McKee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Learned so much about the history of my state-Alabama-during the Civil War. Definitely written by a researcher!