In this riveting tale of high-stakes espionage inspired by the life of "a true Union woman true as steel?" a great heroine of the Civil War finally gets her due. Born to slave-holding aristocracy in Richmond? Virginia? and educated by Northern Quakers? Elizabeth Van Lew was a paradox of her time. When her native state seceded in April 1861? Van Lew?s convictions compelled her to defy the new Confederate regime. Pledging her loyalty to the Lincoln White House? Elizabeth constructed a vast spy ring to gather military intelligence ? endangering not only her reputation? but also her life.