From the streets of Providence to the grandeur of a New York City mansion, Betsy Bowen - later known as Madame Eliza Jumel Burr, who believed George Washington was her father - lived a life marked with secret longing and bold ambition.
Although her business partnership with the French merchant Stephen Jumel was a cordial one, affording her power in real estate, her heart belonged to Vice President Aaron Burr. Their complex and passionate relationship spanned decades.
When the widower Aaron turned down her marriage proposal, she faked her own death to get Stephen to marry her. She then purchased the historic Mount Morris in Washington Heights and renamed it the Morris-Jumel Mansion. Soon after Stephen's death, she and Aaron finally wed, but their marriage culminated in scandal and betrayal.
Set against the backdrop of America's formative years, Eliza's life reflects the tumultuous society of their time. She left a lasting legacy in the very walls of the mansion that once hosted the nation's founders. This historical novel by Diana Rubino is based on the true rags-to-riches story of how Eliza became New York City's wealthiest woman.
