Readers, beware the “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” table at Barnes + Nobel. I know, I know, I feel it’s allure too - neat stacks of paperbacks, intriguing covers that call out “pick me! read me!,” and most irresistible of all getting that free book. The table is at its most dangerous when you don’t have a plan, when there is no goal, no target to be acquired. While you are just browsing it seems to inch its way right in front of you, offering a wide selection without overwhelming you like the shelves do. I am here to tell you it’s all a ruse. 30% of those books make the “Most hated High School reads” list, and the other 60% are there to be off loaded onto unsuspecting customers. They don’t live there because they are the most popular girl at the dance. These books are Anthony Michael Hall’s of the store - always the one left without a love interest, kinda cute if you squint, and usually a total saltine (plain, dry, and boring).
This is how I found myself dawdling through "The Spy Mistress." Nestled between the hits of 2004, and Catch 22, it’s subtitle “Inspired by a true story of civil war espionage” was enough to pull this history nerd in for the kill.
"The Spy Mistress" is The Other Boleyn Girl’s plain and humble stepsister. It has all the potential in the world to be full of suspense, steamy intrigue, and super hot civil war soldiers (Seriously, check it out). Instead it took cues from OJ’s “If I’d Done It” and detailed a very believable account of Elizabeth Van Lew’s involvement in espionage for the North during the Civil War. If you are a respectable person looking for a less boring version of an aside in your 11th grade history book; or someone who neither has 14 hours and the emotional fortitude to watch Ken Burns’ “The Civil War” I would recommend this book. As a character of ill repute, and someone looking for smutty intrigue this book was not what expected. I probably wouldn't read it again even if it were the only reading material available to me as prisoner of war in Fort Sumter.
Elizabeth Van Lew - a spinster in her 30s because her betrothed and true love died of some lameo virus like influenza or something - lives with her mother in Richmond. Initially outspoken, compassionate, and possessed of strong convictions and Union sympathies, I had high hopes that Elizabeth would be the hero I wanted. Alas, she is mostly a whiner, who happens to accomplish some pretty brave things. She and her mother live off her father's fortune left to them under the condition that the family slaves cannot be freed. The family slaves are described as deeply loving and devoted to their masters and perfectly content to stay - particularly when faced with Elizabeth’s many apologies for the conditions of the will. It is also oft mentioned that Elizabeth and her mother pay their slaves, there is no condition of the will preventing this, so they’re basically just servants, which is cool dudes. EXCEPT THAT IT IS NOT AT ALL.
Elizabeth carefully builds an underground network of Union sympathizers to get information in and out of Richmond. She uses the disregard for her station as a southern woman to charm and bribe her way into the local prison in order to exchange information with the Union soldiers being held prisoner. The Confederate officials, who are really due no kind light, are painted simply as exhausted and confused men. They are easily plied by Elizabeth’s pleas to treat the Union soldiers in the good faith that the good ladies of the North are doing the same for their boys. Essentially, without flat out saying so saying it, Chiaverini characterizes the Confederate men as compassionate foot soldiers who are just following orders. Many a valiant escape is organized by Van Lew and her underground spy network, which returns many a man back to Union soil. Somehow, though a foolproof method of transporting people North is devised, it seems to be used exclusively for white people. The only black people who show up in the novel are the slaves belonging to the Van Lew family, and as is said many times, they feel too much love and loyalty to even think of leaving. Again, it’s totally cool bros, the slaves are choosing this, so it’s okay. Their owners are just that nice, they want to stay and serve them forever.
Issues of historical lens and race aside, this book presents an interpretation of the few facts and sources of information we have regarding Elizabeth Van Lew, a real woman who took on crazy risks to support the Union, and has faced her own fair share of unflattering portrayal through the years. Chiaverini spends a lot of time in Van Lew’s head - lamenting the war and Confederate sympathies, planning an escape - and plenty of quiet moments biding time in the Van Lew mansion. As a lover of history, particularly antebellum and Civil War America I made it through out of personal interest - rather than really loving the book. History nerds out there who enjoy reading with a critical lens, and soccer moms looking for a book club book read away. The rest of you should really just gird your emotional loins and sit down to watch Ken Burns’ The Civil War. It will take you roughly the same amount of time as trudging through this book and you will walk away a better educated person.
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