After reading this post I got Elizabeth Kleckley's book and have read about a third of it so far. I'm amazed at how well she expressed herself, in spite of having grown up a slave - she wrote better than many modern people who have been required to go to school, and I'm sure it was not easy for her to get an education. She was sensitive and perceptive, and very respectful not to violate Mrs. Lincoln's privacy but wishing to set straight the many detractors of that time. Her experiences tie in nicely with the recent movie about Lincoln - indeed is obviously one of the resources used by modern writers on the subject of the Lincoln family. I may eventually get around to reading Jennifer Chiaverini’s novel, but love having access to this original source.