Book Description

In The Lincoln Enigma, Gabor Boritt invites renowned Lincoln scholars, and rising new voices, to take a look at much-debated aspects of Lincoln's life--including his possible gay relationships, his plan to send blacks back to Africa, and his high-handed treatment of the Constitution. Boritt explores Lincoln's proposals that looked to a lily-white America. Jean Baker marvels at Lincoln's loves and marriage. David Herbert Donald compares Lincoln and Jefferson Davis as Commanders-in-Chief. Douglas Wilson shows us the young Lincoln--not the strong leader of popular history, but a man who struggles to find his purpose. Gerald Prokopowicz searches for the military leader, William C. Harris for the peacemaker, and Robert Bruce meditates on Lincoln and death. In a final section Boritt and Harold Holzer offer a fascinating portfolio of Lincoln images in modern art. Acute and thought-provoking in their observations, this all-star cast of historians--including two Pulitzer and three Lincoln Prize winners--questions our assumptions of Lincoln, and provides a new vitality to our ongoing reflections on his life and legacy. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

to the guy below me...
Reread your history, hun. Or at least try thinking about it from a different angle.

Great book, by the way.

Why should China not reduce Formosa to rubble.
The US is so protective of Formosa. Why should China not use the Lincoln example. The solution to an area wanting to secede is to reduce it to rubble cause the death of one million people, civilian and military, declare total war on both the military and civilian population. Once conquered, the cause of the war is to say that Formosa cannot be independent, is that Formosa is no longer a part of China. Install military dictators, take away the vote of most of the citizens and dictate that they must approve certain amendments to the constitution, even though they are not a part of China, before they can re-enter the union. During the conflict shred the constitution, lock up millions without benefit of trial, and close any news outlet that does not agree with the destruction of Formosa. Once the destruction of Formosa is over most certainly the victors write the history and within 100 years or less the current president of China will be considered one of the greatest presidents of China. So it takes Formosa 80 years to recover we will always know how evil they were for wanting to attain self determination.

Most certainly the Founders of this Republic seceeded from the British Empire. What was the diference?

Belonging to the Ages ...
"Look at me and I'll tell you without blinkin' this southerner prefers Abraham Lincoln"

goes a rap at the start of this book, and it is aimed at those of like mind, southerner or not.

A warning - half the book consists of illustrations of Lincolniana so that this is one for the specialist. The Lincoln- seeker should read David Donald's excellent biography before opening this book.

That said, does this book tell us anything new about Lincoln? The answer is yes, without being final or definitive. I liked particularly the article on Lincoln and the Constitution, showing that he was not the 'dictator' of Copperhead legend, nor the conscious revolutionary of Garry Wills' 'Lincoln at Gettysburg'. However, did his actions not have revolutionary results?

The article on the Lincoln marriage I felt a bit limited, but also a good corrective to the image of Lincoln the hen-pecked husband trapped in a loveless union. 'Mary, Mary, we are elected!" he cried to his wife on arriving home that great day, showing the essential nature of the partnership between them. However, this essay does not use Mariah Vance's remininscences, though written very much later that the 1850s, which show Mary Todd Lincoln as addicted to paregoric (which contained opium) and subject to alternating fits of drugged lassitiude, and withdrawal-induced sickness. However, even the Vance memoirs (she was the Lincoln's servant) are not entirely negative on Mary Lincoln.

Other essays cover the Lincoln youth, his fascination with death, his status as war leader and finally his image in American art. The enigma is somewhat clarified but somehow the enigma, and the continuing fascination, remains.

First President appear on a Coin.....
Attractively produced compilation with highest scholarship.... Boritt directs Lincoln studies at Center,(civil War) Gettysburg site. Has more than 60 pages illustrating portraiture of Lincoln, diverse forms. Mt.Rushmore,& tourist type statues- in NY, Abe greets girl who suggested he grow a beard. An 'abandoned' forlorn 62' statue stands at a closed campground,Charleston,IL. Best source for,trivia/folklore. More of same,short paperback,Gordon Leidner's collection,2001. ... Read more

Book Description

The life and times of America's most famous champion of liberty, a man of peace whose fate was to lead a nation at war with itself.Join young Lincoln in the Kentucky wilderness and see how his thirst for knowledge and justice led him to the presidency, where he would be called upon to preserve the Union and abolish the evil of slavery forever. ... Read more

Book Description

Abe Lincoln is on his way to give an important speech when he comes across a pig stuck in the mud. If he stops to help the pig, he'll get his brand-new suit dirty. But young Abe can't stand to see an animal in trouble. What should he do?

Level 2
Reading Independently

Reviews (1)

Timeless...Made me smile
I read this book nearly 7 years ago and still remember a few of the anecdotes with fondness. At the time I was 13 and could appreciate the simple logic of Mr. Lincoln and his sparkling wit. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a nostalgic read that won't confront you with questions about Lincoln's political ambitions or racial attitudes. It is simply about a man, famous though he may have been, he was also smart and funny. In an age when humor is all about hurtful, shock-value jokes, this reminds us that it takes far more to make someone laugh and be able to do so more than 100 years after you are gone. ... Read more

Book Description

Using the early lives and careers of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis as theme and framework, two of America's finest historians outline each step in the tragic march to the Civil War. By showing how these two major figures--both Kentucky-born--developed divergent attitudes, the Cattons simultaneously reveal why the North and South became increasingly isolated from each other during the 1850s, and why war became inevitable. Also captured: the epic sweep of the era, with its great new railroads, land-hungry westward expansion, and developing industrial and agricultural empires.
... Read more

Book Description

An exploration of Lincoln's public and private spiritual life, including the vision of a death warning in a Chicago hotel room, and the "visitation" of his small dead son in the White House. Lincoln and Mary's connection to Washington D.C. spiritualists, and the projection of his spiritual nature as President are explored and clarified. This book is a must for those interested in the full picture of Lincoln.

This book was nominated for the Lincoln Prize, The Pulitzer Prize, and The New York Civil War Barondess Award. It has been favorably reviewed in numerous publications. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Extremely heavily researched
Abraham Lincoln: From Skeptic To Prophet by Wayne C. Temple (historian and former editor of the "Lincoln Herald") is a uniquely comprehensive study of an often-overlooked aspect of the man who saw the United States of America through the turmoil of the Civil War. This scholarly and seminal treatise focuses in-depth specifically upon President Lincoln's religious views. Extremely heavily researched, filled with references to primary sources and black-and-white photographs of portraits, places, and documented evidence, Abraham Lincoln From Skeptic to Prophet leaves no stone unturned in its search to uncover precisely what Lincoln believed during the different phases of his life. Abraham Lincoln: From Skeptic To Prophet is an impressive work and a "must-read" for anyone studying the life, times, and personality of Abraham Lincoln. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Much has been said and written in regard to Mr. Lincoln's character for kindness," wrote John M. Bullock, who had gone to the White House to plead on behalf of his dying brother, a Confederate prisoner of war.

Before approaching the President I felt a natural diffidence, not to say awe, of the man who was Chief Executive of the nation, commander-in-chief of the army and navy, as well as the man who held the life of my brother in his hand.... The closer I approached the great man, however, the less I feared him, the higher my courage rose; and before the interview was over I was as much at ease with President Lincoln as if talking to my own father.

Reviews (1)

Intimate accounts of personal meetings with Lincoln
Ms. Radford has allowed us the opportunity to peak in on intimate meetings of individuals with President Lincoln. From statesmen to soldiers, widows to young boys, Americans who had the opportunity to speak firsthand withAbraham Lincoln while he served as President share a common experience.Each felt as if he had the president's undivided attention and utmostrespect. If you're looking for a hero, America still has one in Honest Abe.This book is a treat for history buffs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From his humble beginnings in a small log cabin, young Abe Lincoln knew"that being tall is not enough to make your way in this world." He worked hardon a flatboat, in a general store, and then studying to become a lawyer,eventually making his way into politics. Along the way he married and had threeboisterous sons: "They were like balls bounding down a road, and people saidthey had no manners or discipline. I thought happiness more important thanmanners, though I didn't like it when Tad drove his cart and goats down theWhite House hall." Deeply relieved when the Civil War is over, Abe Lincoln isfinally ready to be happy on the fateful night that he sets out to Ford'sTheater to see a play with his wife.

The focus of this simple picture book is not on Lincoln's death--the bookconcludes before Abe and Mary even leave the White House--but rather on theadmirable life he led. Although many are well acquainted with the legendarystory of young Abe's rough upbringing in Kentucky and his unquenchable thirstfor learning, Ann Turner's fictionalized biography, told in a fresh andimmediate first-person point of view, adds a sweet note of poignancy andhumanity to one of America's greatest heroes. With his historically accuratepaintings, award-winning illustrator Wendell Minor captures the expressions andexperiences of a man who, at the conclusion of the war, sees "how sorrow has duglines in my cheeks." (Ages 6 to 9) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Remembering Lincoln
It is April, 1865, the Civil War has just ended and Abe Lincoln is sitting in the White House waiting for his wife, Mary, to finish dressing. This is a happy night and the Lincoln's are going to Ford's Theater to see a play. As Lincoln patiently waits, he thinks back over his life, his simple upbringing and how he made his way to the presidency...from the small log cabin in Kentucky with only one window, to his love of learning and going to law school, to entering politics and finally becoming president, to believing in one country, whole, not half slave, half free..... Ann Warren Turner's eloquently written "fictional biography" and Wendell Minor's beautifully expressive and detailed artwork combine to capture your youngster's imagination with poignant, quiet emotion and moving, understated text. Historical notes at the end fill in the rest of the story, including Lincoln's assassination and can be used to augment lessons and enhance discussions. Abe Lincoln Remembers is a beautifully written, thoughtful story, perfect for youngsters 5-9 and makes a wonderful addition to all home libraries.

Great Kids' History
This is a wonderful biography for children, especially for children who are already familiar with Lincoln's story. The illustrations are superb, the best since the Daulaire's Caldecott Medal-winning biography of 1957. Wendell Minor's paintings humanize Lincoln without sacrificing that essentail iconic quality we usually expect in a Lincoln portrait. ... Read more

Book Description

On the night that John Wilkes Booth killed President Abraham Lincoln, 20-year-old Lewis Powell burst into the house of William Seward and attempted to assassinate the Secretary of State. Under the alias Lewis Paine, he was convicted and hanged three months later along with three other Lincoln conspirators.A former Confederate soldier, Powell's role in the Lincoln conspiracy has been the subject of a great deal of debate. Was Powell simply a Southern sympathizer who participated in an organized plot to kidnap Lincoln and exchange him for Confederate prisoners of war? Or was he recruited from Mosby's Rangers for special duty directed at the president and his cabinet? Through research on his life and military activities, these questions and others are answered. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Lewis Paine
Lewis Paine was a dashing young man in the 19th Century. Why would Booth tempt Lewis Paine into kidnapping Mr. Lincoln? I liked Lewis Paine since I was little. Now that I'm 20 yrs old now, I still dream of him. I know he's dead already. (Don't think I'm insane for this guy.) If Lewis Paine was like he was in the 1860's today, I'll freak out. My husband's name is Lewis but not Powell. I have collected several pics of Powell since I was 12 to 13. I drove my mom & dad crazy about Lewis Paine when I was 9. Hope you like my thoughts about Lewis Paine.

Love, Carmen

BEST BOOK OF ITS KIND
Without question this is the best researched study of one of John Wilkes Booth's main co-conspirators ever written. ... Read more

Book Description

Lincoln Prize winner William C. Harris turns to the last months of Abraham Lincoln's life in an attempt to penetrate this central figure of the Civil War, and arguably America's greatest president. Beginning with the presidential campaign of 1864 and ending with his shocking assassination, Lincoln's ability to master the daunting affairs of state during the final nine months of his life proved critical to his apotheosis as savior and saint of the nation.

In the fall of 1864, an exhausted president pursued the seemingly intractable end of the Civil War. After four years at the helm, Lincoln was struggling to save his presidency in an election that he almost lost because of military stalemate and his commitment to restore the Union without slavery. Lincoln's victory in the election not only ensured the success of his agenda but led to his transformation from a cautious, often hesitant president into a distinguished statesman. He moved quickly to defuse destructive partisan divisions and to secure the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment. And he skillfully advanced peace terms that did not involve the unconditional surrender of Confederate armies. Throughout this period of great trials, he managed to resist political pressure from Democrats and radical Republicans and from those seeking patronage and profit.By expanding the context of Lincoln's last months beyond the battlefield, Harris shows how the events of 1864-65 tested the president's life and leadership and how he ultimately emerged victorious, and became Father Abraham to a nation.

Book Description

The tumultuous experiences Abraham Lincoln had with women have long been chronicled. Lincoln’s Ladies attempts to answer the questions of how he was affected by the women in his life and how he affected them.

Abandoned through death by his mother, his sister, and his sweetheart, Ann Rutledge, Lincoln found it difficult to relate to women and developed an emotional barrier that often antagonized them. Abstract and cool, he feared intimacy and marriage and, following Ann Rutledge’s untimely death, was incapable of loving anyone the way he had loved her, probably the only woman with whom he shared a deep and wonderful love.

Lincoln fumbled his way through other courtships and was turned down at least twice.

He then stumbled into a strange relationship with Mary Todd—one culminated by marriage through her trickery and his sense of "honor." Lincoln’s marriage to her was his greatest tragedy, "a burning, scorching hell as terrible as death and as gloomy as the grave," said William Herndon, Lincoln’s partner and biographer.

According to H. Donald Winkler, Lincoln’s emotions and motivations were shaped from a mixture of crippling and energizing experiences associated with women, experiences that profoundly affected his personal and professional lives. Lincoln’s Ladies explores the impact of more than thirty women on his life. Not overlooked, however, are the positive impacts of women on Lincoln and he on them, especially his stepmother, who probably was the first person to treat him with respect and glimpse his potential. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fascinating exploration of a great President's private life
Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, Lincoln's Ladies is the eyebrow-raising true story of Abraham Lincoln's often troubled life and the women who influenced it. From his treasured first love, who unfortunately perished shortly after they became engaged, to his tumultuous relationship with his wife Mary Todd, who is documented as verbally abusing him (and the domestic help) on countless occassions and even chasing him with a broom, to numerous other women, not all of them romantic relationships, who came to speak with and know Lincoln in various ways, Lincoln's Ladies is a fascinating exploration of a great President's little-known private life. Written by an award-winning journalist, Lincoln's Ladies is a must-read for anyone curious about the nuances of history in general and Licoln's life in particular.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nothing earth shattering here, but still worth reading
To say that John Wilkes Booth was a fanatic would be like saying that Hitler had a personality disorder. An egomaniac, shallow, zealous, bordering on lunacy, Booth destroyed any hope that the South would have had for a peaceful reconstruction. Somehow, I get the feeling that had John Wilkes stayed with the theater, he would always be in the shadow of his brother Edwin. In a twist of irony, Booth was accosted by a drunk shortly before the assassination. The drunk commented; "You'll never be half the actor your father was" To which Booth replied, "There will be some fine acting tonight....when I leave the stage, I will be the most famous man in History..." ... Read more

Book Description

From Lincoln’s early practice of law in Springfield, Illinois, through his election to the Presidency of the eve of the Civil War, to his untimely assassination, Harness weaves an enormous amount of information into this compelling picture of our 16th President’s public and private life. Readers see Lincoln happy and gangly during his first dance with Mary Todd, playful with his young sons, and strong under pressure as he drafts the Emancipation Proclamation and delivers the Gettysburg Address.

Book Description

Each year, hundreds of scholars and other enthusiasts mark the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address by gathering together in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for the Lincoln Forum. There, leading historians reinterpret and rediscover the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Now the best recent Lincoln Forum essays are available in one volume, offering important re-examinations of Lincoln as military leader, communicator, family man, and icon.The contributors include James M. McPherson, Craig L. Symonds, John F. Marszalek, Jean H. Baker,Hans L. Trefousse, J. Tracy Power, John C. Waugh, Gerald Prokopowicz, and Frank J. Williams. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A must read for history and Civil War buffs.
We must keep our history alive and vividly honest. If we forget or rewrite our history we are doomed to repeat it. These are words that we need to live by today more than ever.

If you have been appalled by the tragedy of our government then you must read the story of Mary Surratt. The government has failed before. It seems we learned little from this tragic story.

This book is easily read but best of all it was an "all night" read. I could not put it down until the last tragic moment. This is american history at its best and at its worst.

You will find history, intrigue, mayhem, tragedy, and tons of Civil War info. I hope you'll take the time to read this wonderful book. Enjoy!

A thought provoking and heartfelt work.
Mary Surratt is must reading for anyone interested in the humanistic character of the Lincoln assassination conspiracy and of the Civil War era. Modern times seem replete with conspiracy theories. In this exhaustively researched historical novel, Ms. Trindal harks back to one of America's oldest and longest lasting unsolved conspiracy theory that has never lost its grip on the American conscious. Set at a time in which many protections of the Constitution were ignored in the interest of wartime expediency, Ms. Trindal goes beyond dry historical context as she portrays the hearts and souls of the people involved in this tragic event, often drawing from their own words or of those who knew them best. Despite the fact the Union was no longer at war, the first woman executed in our history was denied the basic due process right to a jury of her peers, which may not have found for the government, as a civilian jury did two years later in acquitting the last alleged co-conspirator - Mary Surratt's son. Ms. Trindal draws upon an impressive array of resources, each meticulously end noted, to present the case that while the depth Mary Surratt's knowledge and actions in John Wilkes Booth's assassination of Lincoln will continue to be speculative, there is no doubt that her story is truly An American Tragedy.

She was guilty!
Mary Surratt is guilty of allowing meetings to occure on her protperty that were not only criminal but tratiorous and that affected millions of people. Lincoln's death was one of the lowest time periods in American history. Lincoln was one of the greatest human beings grace this planet and if Mary Surratt had any idea of Booth's plan then she got exactly what she deserved.

Her Name Is Still Mudd But A Good Read
This book is well written, but Mrs. Surratt was Guilty, and her peers were the military. It's only a shame her son didn't get what he deserved. If you wish read this interesting book, and then read the book - His Name Is Still Mudd by Steers, and you will understand why this woman deserved to hang.

Good and Simple
I enjoyed this book very much. It gives a thorough biography of Mrs. Surratt without going into too much clogging detail. Well researched, we get a glimpse of her life before, during and after her trial. The book covers the other alleged conspirators only as they touch her life. Easy to read, it is suitable for those in high school and up. Don't skip the footnotes in the back - there's some good reading to be had there, too. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume gathers the best previously unpublished and uncollected writings on Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln scholarship by one of his great biographers, Benjamin P. Thomas.

A skilled historian and a masterful storyteller himself, Thomas was widely regarded as the greatest Lincoln historian of his generation. With these essays, he combines historical depth with narrative grace in delineating Lincoln's qualities as a humorist, lawyer, and politician.

From colorful tall tales to clever barbs aimed at political opponents, Lincoln clothed a shrewd wit in a homespun, backwoods vernacular. He used humor to defuse tension, illuminate a point, put others at ease--and sometimes for sheer fun. From an early reliance on broad humor and ridicule in speeches and on the stump, Lincoln's style shifted in 1854 to a more serious vein in which humor came primarily to elucidate an argument. "If I did not laugh occasionally I should die," he is said to have told his cabinet, "and you need this medicine as much as I do."

Thomas brings his deep knowledge of Lincoln to essays on the great man's tumultuous career in Congress, his work as a lawyer, his experiences in the Courts, and his opinions of the South. A gracious survey of Lincoln's early biographers, particularly Ida Tarbell, stands alongside an appreciation of Harry Edward Pratt, a key figure in the early days of the Abraham Lincoln Association. Thomas also assesses Lincoln's use of language and the ongoing significance of the Gettysburg Address.

This diverse collection is enhanced by an introduction by Michael Burlingame, himself a leading biographer of Lincoln. Burlingame provides a balanced portrait of Thomas and his circuitous path toward writing history. ... Read more

Book Description

The tumultuous experiences Abraham Lincoln had with the women in his life have long been known, but here the stories have been brought together - and filled out with newly discovered accounts - in a fresh, new way that shows their effect on Lincoln's personality, ambition, and spirit:

• The death of his mother when he was nine years old gave him a feeling of abandonment.
• The discovery that his mother's ancestry and reputation were scandalous and that he may have been illegitimate.
• The unexpected death of his beloved sister, Sarah.
• The untimely death of Ann Rutledge, probably the only woman with whom Lincoln shared a deep, wonderful love.
• His sudden and unexpected marriage to Mary Todd, a marriage that was Lincoln's greatest tragedy.

Not overlooked are the positive impacts of women on Lincoln and he on them, especially his stepmother - the first person to treat him with respect.

This in-depth book reveals the effect that women had on Abraham Lincoln's life and career.

Reviews (12)

Lincoln's Ladies
This was an intersting read.As there are so few books about the women in Lincoln's life you can't imagen how thirlled I was to see it in the book stor.
The book is intesting however Winkler keeps talking about his own hearitige of Ann Rutledge.I wish that he would have talked more about Mary Todd who I still feel was unjust in her socity of her reputaition and even today.
All in all this was an insterting book and I did learn a few new things about Lincoln and his viwes on wemon.
Nice work.

Destined to become a classic!
This fascinating, well-written book is destined to become a classic. It contains not only fresh new material on Ann Rutledge and Lincoln's New Salem years, but also revealing and interesting material on Lincoln's interaction with more than thirty women-- from the farm girls of Indiana to a pious but teasing blond bombshell in Springfield and the militant women of the Civil War era. Nothing is held back as the author delves into areas often sidestepped by other writers. The author establishes--from more than a dozen eyewitness sources--that Lincoln was driven into a marriage he didn't want and would forever regret. Only die-hard Mary Todd fans will be disappointed, but they will be hard-pressed to disprove the accounts. This book will make you laugh and cry, to think and to wonder. Rather than just a collection of stories about women, this books puts them into the context of major events in Lincoln's life and shows how women affected some of his major decisions. This book is illuminating and delightful.

A Major Contribution to Lincoln Studies
It seems to me that a few reviews of this book have been extremely unfair, especially those by Mr. Emerson and someone who calls himself "kdpsyd." Mr. Winkler is an accomplished scholar and award-winning author who has written the first full-length book on this intriguing subject. I purchased the book after reading reviews from authoritative sources, and have found it to be extremely informative and fascinating. As "Civil War Times" noted, this book is "important and highly provocative and readable." "Civil War News" called it intriguing and engrossing and "quite thought-provoking. . . with careful notes and an impressive bibliography." "Today's Books," an independent report to the news media on the book-publishing industry rated this book "a best read." Such recognition is given only to "the top ten percent of new books published and distributed in America each year."

Building upon the latest published Lincoln scholarship, Mr. Winkler has developed startling new insights and added fresh information about Lincoln's New Salem years, including the most complete story in existence of Ann Rutledge's life and the
Lincoln-Rutledge romance.

The book is obviously based on solid research and should be read by anyone interested in what previously has been a puzzling aspect of Lincoln's life.

a great new perspective
I was quite thrilled when I saw this book in the bookstore. I have read numerous books on Abraham Lincoln, however, this was a perspective about his life I had not read much about. Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed reading this book. It was very well-written and engaging; enough so that it only took me two days to read it. I was captivated. Yes, at times the book seemed prejudicial against Lincoln's wife and biased in favour of Ann Rutledge, however his point of view was very interesting to note. I highly recommend this book to anyone willing to get a firm grasp on all aspects of Lincoln's life. It was just incredible!!!

Dismal
The author shows a limited understanding of Lincoln. He failed to research his subject. The author is misguided and misinformed. This book is an insult to Lincoln scholars. ... Read more