Behind the Scenes

‘Behind the Scenes’ (1868) was written by American civil activist and author, Elizabeth Keckley, who is best known as the confidante of the First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln.

Her astonishing life story is told in this autobiographical book which traces her eventful life, from enslavement in Virginia and thirty years as a slave to her eventual freedom and time working in the White House.

This enthralling, poignant book is an extraordinary piece of American history that will delight anyone interested in slave narratives, such as Frederick Douglass' ´Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass´.





Elizabeth Keckley (1818 –1907) was a successful seamstress, civil activist, and author, best known as a confidante of First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln, and for her autobiography ‘Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House’ (1868).

Born into slavery, she became a seamstress and eventually bought her freedom in 1855. She moved to Washington where she started a successful business as a seamstress and was popular amongst politicians’ wives.

Meeting the President’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, Keckley became her confidante and ended up working in the White House.