Behind the marble statues, were Martha and George Washington truly the heroic figures revered in legends?
In honor of Mother’s Day (in the U.S.), we focus on Washington’s Lady, a novel about Martha Custis Washington, a woman who perhaps should be known as “Mother of our Country” (for the support she gave her husband, George Washington, commonly called “Father of our Country”).
“It is said that without George Washington, there would be no United States, but without Martha, there would be no George.” This quotation resembles the cliché, “behind every successful man is a woman,” but author Nancy Moser shows it’s true in the case of George and Martha. Moser offers examples of key moments when Martha’s support and wisdom enable George to carry on his life’s work of winning independence from England and building a new nation.
Washington’s Lady brings to life this famous couple and their era. This novel clearly shows the great sacrifices both Martha and George made in the struggle for independence from England, including separation for months at a time, and the emotional and financial costs to their family.
The author paints a vivid word portrait of Martha, beginning with her days as a young widow and mother, followed by the unfolding of her life with George and the years after his death.
Characters:
My take on Martha:
- Initially, Martha didn’t evoke much sympathy from me, because of her wealth and expensive tastes.
- Martha’s coddling of her son, Jacky, contrasts with her strict treatment of her daughter, Patsy. This emerges as her major flaw in this story. Jacky’s portrayal as a spoiled child made me hope he would mature and change. The consequences of his upbringing become clear as time passes.
- As the story progresses, Martha matures through her struggles, dealing with difficult family members, deaths of many loved ones, and her restricted position as a woman of her time.
- Ultimately, Martha’s character shines, especially as George’s partner and helpmate, sacrificing 16 years of life together at Mount Vernon with her beloved husband for the cause of independence and the new nation.
George’s character is more realistic and human than in legends, but he still comes across as an amazingly high-minded figure whose sense of duty and honor evokes admiration.
Strengths:
This novel tells an engaging story, humanizing both Martha and George, and provides insights into the couple’s personalities, spirituality, family members, and the course of the American Revolution.
Weakness:
In this era, the lack of complete written records about some characters and events can leave mysteries in the minds of readers (not the author’s fault, though).
Content review:
Washington’s Lady contains descriptions of wartime injuries, and it doesn’t shy away from revealing characters’ flaws and misdeeds, but bedroom doors remain closed.
Recommendation:
I recommend the well-crafted Washington’s Lady to readers who, like me, enjoy a vicarious journey through individuals’ lives and historic events, seen through the eyes of participants.
Keep reading for a brief interview with Nancy Moser, the author of Washington’s Lady!
Reader, can you recommend a great historical novel about a mother?
Happy Mother’s Day to you if you’re a mother! May we all reflect on the contributions our mothers or mother-figures have made to our lives!
AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH NANCY MOSER:
What drew you to Martha Custis Washington as the protagonist for a novel?
My husband and I took a trip to Williamsburg and Mt. Vernon. Walking around in that atmosphere, seeing the workers in costume . . . it really made me want to write about that time period. I’ve always been patriotic and I’ve always been impressed with the risks the first colonists were faced with. The choices. Freedom is the bedrock of our country, so finding out about the men and women who created that freedom was enticing.
I chose Martha instead of George because I was writing a Women of History series (shameless plug here: I started out with Mozart’s Sister about Nannerl Mozart, then went on to write Just Jane about Jane Austen, and How Do I Love Thee about Elizabeth Barrett Browning.) I was looking for honorable women to write about. Martha fits that bill. People know about George, but little about her. Plus, she’s always depicted as this petite, rather frumpy in-the-shadows woman. That’s not the kind of woman George would be attracted to. So I set the record straight.
You mentioned that Martha burned her correspondence with George. Without these letters, what research sources enabled you to create such a complete portrait of their relationship and life together?
I found a dozen history books about the Washingtons, the war, and the colonists. The people in those books shared the common attributes of courage and purpose. My own relatives fought in that war. When I write I always put myself in the shoes of the characters. I feel what they feel. Knowing the history and feeling all the emotions they must have felt . . . it helped me bring Martha to life.
Here are a few of the books I mentioned in the Fact or Fiction at the back of the book: The General and Mrs. Washington by Bruce Chadwick, Martha Washington: First Lady of Liberty by Helen Bryan, Martha Washington by Patricia Brady, and The Unexpected George Washington: His Private Life by Harlow Giles Unger.
What was your biggest surprise in researching this story?
How much George and Martha had to be apart. All those winters. All those years where she was left alone at Mt. Vernon. That, added to all the personal losses she endured . . . she had to buck it up and play the very difficult hand she’d been dealt. She didn’t have a choice. She couldn’t call a therapist, read a self-help book, arrange for grocery delivery, or even call George. She had to depend on herself and her God. It made me wonder if I would be so strong.
When you write about real people from the past, how much do you need to alter their life details to make their stories work as novels?
That depends. Many times there are conflicting historical details. As I mentioned in the Fact or Fiction section, during such times I had to make a choice of which version to believe. And of course, there’s the huge issue of what they said because much of what I write is dialogue. That’s where I had to make it up. Yet since I knew the history I could write logical conversations that would lead the story in that direction. How I’d love to talk to Martha and George today. They would be in awe of what their country has become, but they’d also be appalled. We need to regain our courage to fight for what is right and good. We have the potential. Every day I pray that our country taps into its strong, indomitable roots.
What were the most challenging aspects of writing this novel?
The research! I’m more of a seat-of-the-pants writer. I take a basic idea, cast the story, then let the characters take over. I’m usually surprised by the ending! But with these women of history I felt a huge responsibility to portray their lives as correctly as I could manage. I wanted to honor them while I showed the world their strengths and weaknesses, their triumphs and mistakes, their doubts and faith, and their sheer gumption to do the best they could. I was their voice.
I have a plaque in my office that says, “Well behaved women rarely make history.” Unfortunately, that’s true. It was hard to find honorable women to write about because the ones who are listed in history books (that would have name recognition to readers) are the ones who bucked the system in ways that were often scandalous. My ladies were women of good character and strong faith. I was honored to write about them.
What did you enjoy about writing this novel?
I grew to really like Martha. I got her. Sometimes for fun I think about having Martha in the car with me as I do errands. All the things I’d show her as I wore jeans and comfy shoes, as I put on my sunglasses. No corsets or petticoats in sight! She’d marvel at the paved roads and traffic lights; the cars with air conditioning, cup holders, massaging seats, and music (or movies!); the grocery stores with hundreds of thousands of things to choose from. Then we’d go home and put the food away in the fridge and freezer, and I’d make her some lasagna or enchiladas, defrosting the meat in the microwave. Then we’d watch this miraculous thing called a television while I emailed a friend on the other side of the world. I’d send them a selfie of Martha and me . . . Wouldn’t that be fun?
What would you like readers to take away from reading Washington’s Lady?
The sacrifice of the colonists who fought for us. They had no idea if their ideas would work, if they would be victorious or hanged as a traitor, but they fought anyway. We’re all comfy in our lives right now. We can get involved or choose to let someone else do it. Each of us needs to dig deep and find our own courage to sacrifice and risk and strive to make things better.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
The common thread in all my forty-some novels is that God has given each of us a unique purpose. The trick is to find out what it is. Seek God, discover your purpose, and the rest will fall into place.