Abraham LincolnThis self-made man from a log cabin-the great orator, the Emancipator, the savior of the Union, the martyr-was arguably our greatest president; but it takes a master storyteller like Thomas Keneally, author of the award-winning novel that inspired the film "Schindler's List," to bring alive the history behind the myth. Acclaimed for his recent Civil War biography, "American Scoundrel," Keneally delves with relish-and a keen, fresh eye-into Lincoln's complicated persona. "Abraham Lincoln" depicts all the amazing man's triumphs, insecurities, and crushing defeats with uncanny insight: his early poverty and the ambition that propelled him out of it; the shaping of the man and his political philosophy by youthful exposure to Christianity, slavery, and business; his tempestuous marriage and his fatherly love. We see him, elected to the presidency by a twist of fate, unswerving in the grim day-to-day conduct of the war as his vision and acumen led the country forward. "Abraham Lincoln" is an incisive study of a turning point in our history and a revealing portrait of its pivotal figure, his greatness etched even more clearly in this very touching human story. |
From inside the book
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Page 50
... political beliefs , Lincoln fol- lowed a coherent political philosophy , much of it influenced by the very Calvinism he had already rejected . He believed , as he said , in the " Doctrine of Necessity ” —that is , “ that the human mind ...
... political beliefs , Lincoln fol- lowed a coherent political philosophy , much of it influenced by the very Calvinism he had already rejected . He believed , as he said , in the " Doctrine of Necessity ” —that is , “ that the human mind ...
Page 63
... political woman and thus an oddity for her age , had no doubts that her husband was at last coming into his political inheritance . She nagged him about it , said Herndon , “ like a toothache . " " Nobody knows me , " Lincoln would ...
... political woman and thus an oddity for her age , had no doubts that her husband was at last coming into his political inheritance . She nagged him about it , said Herndon , “ like a toothache . " " Nobody knows me , " Lincoln would ...
Page 180
... political life and thought and Jefferson's . For many foreign and indeed American readers of my age , their first extended contact with the Lincoln story was by way of Carl Sandburg , whose rich and rhapsodic prose seemed to echo Aaron ...
... political life and thought and Jefferson's . For many foreign and indeed American readers of my age , their first extended contact with the Lincoln story was by way of Carl Sandburg , whose rich and rhapsodic prose seemed to echo Aaron ...
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abolitionists Abraham Lincoln American antislavery army attacked Baltimore battle began believed Billy Herndon Buchanan cabinet called campaign candidate capital Chase coln coln's Confederacy Confederate Congress convention debates declared Democrats dollars early elected emancipation father Federal fight Fort Monroe Frémont Gettysburg Grant Hooker hypo Illinois issue John John Nicolay Kentucky labor Lamon land later lawyer Lee's legislature Lincoln told Lincoln's secretaries Mary Todd Mary Todd Lincoln Mary's McClellan Meade military Mississippi Nicolay nomination North Offut Ohio Orville Browning party political Potomac president presidential proclamation railroad Rebel Republican Richmond River Robert Salem Sangamon County secession seemed Senate Seward slaveholding slavery slaves soldiers South Southern speech Springfield Stanton Stephen Douglas Stuart summer thousand tion Todd Lincoln took town troops Union Union army Vandalia Virginia vote Washington West Whigs White House wife woman wrote York young