A PERFECT UNION Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation

Most of us know Dolley Madison as the woman who saved the portrait of George Washington from the British in 1814, and as a brand of pastries. This is unfortunate, for Mrs. Madison may have been the most popular woman of her time. Dr. Allgor attempts to put Dolley in her proper place in American history in this detailed account of the early republic. Anne Twomey has a daunting task in narrating this long work. Her voice is soft and serene; she is clear with her enunciation and is by no means monotonous. Yet the softness of her performance makes it hard to pay attention for more than a short time. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]