Abraham Lincoln: The Man Behind the Myths“There is no better introduction to current thinking about Lincoln and his place in history.” —Newsday An essential book for any student of Lincoln and American history, Abraham Lincoln: The Man Behind the Myths is acclaimed Lincoln biographer Stephen B. Oates's unique exploration of America's sixteenth president in reality and memory. In this multifaceted portrait, Oates, "the most popular historical interpreter of Lincoln" (Gabor S. Boritt, New York Times Book Review), exposes the human side of the great and tragic president—including his depression, his difficulties with love, and his troubled and troubling attitudes about slavery—while also confronting the many legends that have arisen around "Honest Abe." Oates throughout raises timely questions about what the Lincoln mythos reveals about the American people. |
From inside the book
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... Mary . Because a person's private and public selves are inextricably linked , I have searched Lincoln's inner conflicts , and described how he sought to resolve them , in hopes that this might afford a deeper understanding and ...
... Mary Lincoln , surely the most misunderstood First Lady in our history . Because her whole life was bound up with Lincoln , Mary's desolate years alone constitute a tragic coda to the Lincoln story . On the lecture circuit and in the ...
... Mary Todd . Herndon certainly bears her no love ; in fact , he detests the woman ; she is " the female wildcat of the age . What follows about Lincoln and Mary is mostly malicious gossip . In Springfield , Herndon's Lincoln does promise ...
... Mary , who later came down with paresis , and three of their children , who died prema- turely . Such prattle tells us more about Vidal than about Lincoln , for there is not a shred of truth to it . * 3 : WHITE CHIEF AND HONKY There is ...
Contents
ManyMooded | 31 |
All Conquering Mind | 45 |
Mr Lincoln | 51 |
The Beacon Light of Liberty | 57 |
This Vast Moral Evil | 65 |
My Dissatisfied Fellow Countrymen | 75 |
The Central Idea | 89 |
The Man of Our Redemption | 111 |
Final | 149 |
Aftermath | 164 |
Acknowledgments | 189 |
Index | 215 |