Immortal Wife

Immortal Wife is a best-selling fictional biography written by Irving Stone.[1] The book came out in 1944[2] and is the story of Jessie Benton Frémont the well known and influential abolitionist and political activist. Her husband was Colonel John C. Frémont.

The book is a novel and not a factual biography, nor a factual history. It is a novelization of the woman and her actual relationships. It is told as a narration by Jessie. She relates the story of the court martial of her husband. This trial is a result of a dispute between Commodore Stockton of the Navy and General Kearny of the Army.[3] This court martial is an actual historical event, that took place in January 1848 in Washington, D.C.

This book was recognized at the time of its publication for being a "history as dramatic and deeply moving as any novel or play, but without sacrificing accuracy and truth."[4] Stone was noted for writing about overlooked, misunderstood, or unfairly misrepresented women who were married to and influenced well known historical figures. This was the first of a series of four such books he wrote.[5] The New York Times called it "...a full and rounded portrait of two remarkable persons, and of a remarkable marriage...", and thought this book was impressive. The Times called it "an objective analysis of character..." so packed with facts that it is "a biography" rather than a novel.[6] One reviewer called this book a grand love story, a grand edventure story, about "one of the most dramatic and controversial figures in our history," that is well told.[7]

Paramount Pictures announced, in 1951, that they would produce a film based on this book starring Olivia de Havilland, but there is no evidence that it ever went into production.[8][9]