---
product_id: 14774083
title: "Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History"
brand: "brand: university of illinois press"
price: "9641 kr"
currency: ISK
in_stock: true
category: "Hardcover"
url: https://www.desertcart.is/products/14774083-mary-lincolns-insanity-case-a-documentary-history
store_origin: IS
region: Iceland
---

# Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History

**Brand:** brand: university of illinois press
**Price:** 9641 kr
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History by brand: university of illinois press
- **How much does it cost?** 9641 kr with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.is](https://www.desertcart.is/products/14774083-mary-lincolns-insanity-case-a-documentary-history)

## Best For

- brand: university of illinois press enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted brand: university of illinois press brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

In 1875 Mary Lincoln, the widow of a revered president, was committed to an insane asylum by her son, Robert. The trial that preceded her internment was a subject of keen national interest. The focus of public attention since Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, Mary Lincoln had attracted plentiful criticism and visible scorn from much of the public, who perceived her as spoiled, a spendthrift, and even too much of a Southern sympathizer. Widespread scrutiny only increased following her husband's assassination in 1865 and her son Tad's death six years later, after which her overwhelming grief led to the increasingly erratic behavior that led to her being committed to a sanitarium. A second trial a year later resulted in her release, but the stigma of insanity stuck. In the years since, questions emerged with new force, as the populace and historians debated whether she had been truly insane and subsequently cured, or if she was the victim of family maneuvering. In this volume, noted Lincoln scholar Jason Emerson provides a documentary history of Mary Lincoln's mental illness and insanity case, evenhandedly presenting every possible primary source on the subject to enable a clearer view of the facts. Beginning with documents from the immediate aftermath of her husband's assassination and ending with reminiscences by friends and family in the mid-twentieth century, Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History compiles more than one hundred letters, dozens of newspaper articles, editorials, and legal documents, and the daily patient progress reports from Bellevue Place Sanitarium during Mary Lincoln's incarceration. Including many materials that have never been previously published, Emerson also collects multiple reminiscences, interviews, and diaries of people who knew Mary Lincoln or were involved in the case, including the first-hand recollection of one of the jurors in the 1875 insanity trial. Suggesting neither accusation nor exoneration of the embattled First Lady, Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History gives scholars and history enthusiasts incomparable access to the documents and information crucial to understanding this vexing chapter in American history.

## Features

- Used Book in Good Condition

## Images

![Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History - Image 1](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5101PJvMNaL.jpg)

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.is/products/14774083-mary-lincolns-insanity-case-a-documentary-history](https://www.desertcart.is/products/14774083-mary-lincolns-insanity-case-a-documentary-history)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Iceland*
*Store origin: IS*
*Last updated: 2026-02-28*