Lost Lady: The Lady Elgin Tragedy

by M. Paul Hollander, Lisa LaGrow Masslich (Illustrator)

September 1860 America is coming apart at the seams. Tensions are high throughout the country, even in the state of Wisconsin, admitted to the Union just 12 years earlier. The issue of slavery, and the abolition of it, is on every adult's mind.10 year-old Mary Anne Fahey, however, is not thinking about slavery at all. She is excited that she will be taking a ride on a side-wheel steamship, the Lady Elgin, from Milwaukee to Chicago, where her father Patrick, her mother Mary, her friend Willie, and his dad, Captain Garrett Barry, will all be participating in a parade and attending a rally for Stephen Douglas, the Democrat from Illinois who is running for President against the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln.Mary Anne and Willie have no idea that they are about to become part of the largest tragedy to ever occur on Lake Michigan. The Lady Elgin, already considered by some to be cursed, is about to go down in history for the greatest loss of life on the waters of the Great Lakes. Who will survive? Lost Lady is based on the true story of the disaster that rocked a nation already in the throes of discord and conflict. The events leading to this horrific tragedy, along with the heroic attempts both on land and sea to save the lives of so many, is an account worthy of tribute to the heroes and in deference to all those who perished on that fateful night.

193 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2018

Reviews

[Elaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book flows well and it is well written. It showed a good picture of what life was probably like for the passengers of the Lady Elgin and helped humanize some of the passengers on it - too often we see just a photo or footnote of a person but this was a nice reminder that they had lives and families too. 

Even though my degree is in history I had never really considered Wisconsin's role in the Civil War, or what life was like in the state in the years leading up to it, so it was a very interesting topic to me. Anyone who is into historical fiction would enjoy this, as it relates to something rarely talked about and is overall quite enjoyable to read.

[David William · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not well written at first, it got much better and the actual tragedy was done very well.
I had heard about Wisconsin's attempt to succeed from the union, I'd never seen any details of it before. Succession was being considered because of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 which required escaped slave to be returned. Wisconsin was against this law enough to leave the union. When the war between the states erupted, the movement to succeed was dropped.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story. Hollander did a lot of historical research and includes a listing of each person involved and what happened to them, as best he could figure it out. I was very impressed. The book itself is written more for kids, but if you want a good overview of the tragedy, it is worth the read, no matter your age.

[Nicholas Ownby · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and informative read. The dialog is not convincingly period-appropriate, but it was enjoyable. Stories like these are so fascinating because shipwrecks on Lake MI are far less known. Recommend!

[Elsa J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in school. It was decent