Mr. Lincoln's Wars: A Novel in Thirteen StoriesIn this highly ambitious collection, Adam Braver explores Abraham Lincoln's inner life and personal turmoils -- while also reflecting on the indelible impact Lincoln had on the nation during the last year of his presidency. Braver brings the president to life, not just as the strong and resilient leader of history books but also as a grief-stricken father, heartbroken over the loss of his young son. Across a rich canvas of truth and imagination, Mr. Lincoln's Wars reveals a president within the White House walls. We see Lincoln as he explores the meaning of loss through a chance encounter with the father of a slain soldier. And a good-hearted young Union soldier is quickly turned into a killer in the name of President Lincoln. Finally, there is the assassination and the autopsy, as seen through the eyes of John Wilkes Booth, Mary Lincoln, the assistant surgeon general, and one of Lincoln's closest friends. Brilliant in its depiction of the country during the waning days of the war, this book is an insightful and moving exploration of the myth of celebrity and the passions it arouses. More than anything, Mr. Lincoln's Wars introduces a talented new writer whose storytelling ability knows no bounds. |
From inside the book
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... light . “ Mama won't eat again , ” and his eyes opened wide with the fear of the messenger before he shut the door . Abe pulled himself up from his chair , ran the edge of his finger below his eyes , and walked past Stanton down the ...
... green shadows , leaving no trace of light from the day . His eyes skipped along the hallway walls and settled on a mirror , then jumped from the fright . Mary saw him looking away . Her pale complexion flushed ७ { ADAM BRAVER }
... light of a fading candle, the strength draining from him. He reached out and held my forearm. I'm sure I jumped a step or two. But he held on. At least his fingers were warm. “Tell me everything,” he said. I looked at him, shrugging my ...
... light tapped up and down my spine . And a cold line of sweat wept straight across my forehead . I tried to look at Mr. Lincoln but my nerves swelled deeper . " Let me tell you something , " Mr. Lincoln said . “ Since Willie died all I ...
Contents
11 | |
25 | |
The Idiot Brother | 47 |
The Willie Grief | 67 |
His Stepmothers Sister | 89 |
A Letter to President Lincoln from a Good Girl | 97 |
The Ward | 107 |
On to the Next Field | 131 |
Crybaby Jacks Theory | 149 |
The Sad and Familiar Ballad of Captain | 181 |
The Necropsy | 195 |
A Rainy Night in Springfield Illinois1849 | 289 |
A Word on Researching Mr Lincolns Wars | 305 |