Book Description

Renowned scholar George Anastaplo describes a side of Abraham Lincoln that previous biographers have overlooked: the development and legacy of his legal and constitutional thought. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A masterpiece by a great American.
Despite the fact that this book is in fact a compilation of essays written over a nearly forty year period, it possesses a unity and coherence that would put many other works of "scholarship' to shame. Anastaplo is anamazingly learned, thoughtful,and spiritually sensitive man. He is alsothat rarity, an INTELLIGENT patriot. One cannot help but think, reading hisreflections on Lincoln and the founding, that he would have made a superbaddition to the Supreme Court, despite the fact that he The Illinois StateBar , deeming him a 'security risk"(!!), refused to grant himpermission to practice law back during the McCarthy era. He certainlyunderstands the constitution better than several of the Justices. ... Read more

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The most informative juvenile biography of Abraham Lincoln
Even though it was published in 1988, the Abraham Lincoln volume, like all of those in the Encyclopedia of Presidents, looks like something that came out in the Fifties.The book is filled with historic photographs, engravings, posters, paintings and cartoons, but they are all printed in black & white.The cover has a painting of Lincoln and a strip of images from his life.In the world of the internet, CD-Roms, and cutting-edge graphic design, this book looks very boring; but it is also as informative of a juvenile biography of Abraham Lincoln as you are going to find without going up to the next young adult level.

As is the norm with the volumes in this series, Jim Hargrove begins in media res with the first chapter devoted to Lincoln's issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation (the complete text of which is provided in a historical broadside) as Freedom's Hour.The other chapters look at Young Abraham, covering his early life in Kentucky and Indiana; The Representative from New Salem is about Lincoln's time in New Salem; Springfield focuses on a pivotal period in Lincoln's life as a lawyer, congressman, and the Senate race with Stephen A. Douglas; The Sixteenth President is basically about the entire Civil War, covered in a single chapter; finally, Good Friday deals with the assassination, ending with the final haunted photograph taken of Lincoln earlier that week.

The strength of this book is the information it provides young readers about Lincoln's life and political career.Hargrove deals with Lincoln's suspension of habeus corpus during the early days of the war and the controversy that dogged his years in the White House.The point, of course, is that Lincoln was not an American saint until after he was assassinated, and that during his Presidency it can be argued that he was vilified more than any other person to hold the office.This is not the first book that a young student would turn to in order to learn about Lincoln's life and times, but it certainly provides more biographical and historical details than any other comparable volume.

Rather good info
When my younger brother first saw this book, he was full of enthusiasm, reading it page by page. But slowly, he grew bored with it and just put it aside. It was very informative about American presidents but not engaging enough for him. On the other hand, the price is rather expensive. Those aside, I think this book is a great read (if your interested that is). ... Read more

Book Description

"Lincoln, the Lawyer" "Lincoln, the Citizen" "Lincoln, the Story-Teller" "Lincoln, the Statesman" "Lincoln, the Friend of Man" and other phrases of this remarkable character, have received special treatment at the hands of various students and writers.While some attention has been given to the religious side, it has been comparatively meager, and has not received the prominence that it deserves.

Here is a labor of love.The aim has been to let Abraham Lincoln speak for himself, that the people, hearing his message, may learn to know the real Lincoln.

The author shows Lincoln to have been a profoundly religious man. ... Read more

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Exciting Faith!
This book reveals a side about Abraham Lincoln with direct quotes that isn't politcally correct today. I studied history at state university and became a librarian and am thrilled to see the personal faith of Lincoln in this book. This man believes in God. This book should be reprinted in hardback for all libraries. Highly recommended.

A must-read for any fundamental Christian
Abraham Lincoln: The Christian leaves no doubt in the mind where Mr. Lincoln's heart was. Fundamentally sound faith is evident in Mr. Lincoln's writings and speeches. One of the greatest books on one of our finest presidents ... Read more

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Beautiful photographs following the footsteps of A. Lincoln
"Where Lincoln Walked" takes readers through the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln through the backroads of Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. Raymond Bial takes beautiful color photographs of Lincoln's haunts that are now state parks: Lincoln Homestead State Park (nar Springfield, Kentucky), Abraham Lincoln Birthplace (Sinking Spring Farm), Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home (Knob Creek Farm), Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (Pigeon Creek, Indiana), Lincoln's New Salem, Vandalia Statehouse, Postville Courthouse, Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Old State Capitol, and Lincoln-Herndon Law Office. These are photographs of not only buildings, but also of logs split into rails. Be forewarned: these photographs will only whet your appetite and you will have a hankering to go and visit these places (most of which I have had the fortune of already visiting). The text is a simple biography of Lincoln, which is fine because the point is not to tell you things you did not already know about the man but to remind you why these places are important in his life. In this volume Lincoln's presidency is reduced to a single paragraph, most of which is devoted to the eloquent conclusion of his Second Inaugural Address by an etching of Ford's Theater at Washington. This is about the Lincoln who boarded the train in Springfield for the long trip to Washington. I was certainly more impressed by this book than I thought I was going to be. "Where Lincoln Walked" is one of the better photo albums devoted to the life of Lincoln. ... Read more

Book Description

Historical analysis and psychological inquiry are combined in this insightful portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Through an examination of his childhood, courtship, marriage, and public career, an image emerges of a man often divided against himself-a description famously applied to Civil War-era America. Lincoln's troubled personal life, and the means by which he dealt with it, contributed to the lasting legacy of his presidency. An investigation into his important personal relations-with his parents, his wife and children, and with his law partners-shed light on the public triumphs of this great political figure. ... Read more

Book Description

Readers will enjoy an interesting look at not only the man, but the 19th century world in which he lived. Britain’s enormous growth and emergence as a democracy, Germany united under Bismarck, Russia freeing the serfs, Japan opened to foreign trade, the U.S. in turmoil over slavery and many other cultural and socio/economic events are all shared in Foster’s engaging text laced with her traditional pictures, maps, time lines and graphs. ... Read more

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DYNAMITE! A MUST-READ For any Lincoln Fan
I read this book from cover to cover the first time I got it and have bought 5 other copies as gifts for friends who have said the SAME THING!!! It is the BEST book I have read since THE LINCOLN CONSPIRACY, and by the way, The last 4 chapters read very much like an extension OF THAT very BOOK!! I won't give any thing away except to say that RETURN OF THE ASSASSIN-JOHN WILKES BOOTH is most assuredly a MUST READ BOOK for every Lincoln Assassination buff Bar none!!! ... Read more

Book Description

The Emancipation Proclamation forever changed the course of American history. In Abraham Lincoln and the Road to Emancipation, William Klingaman provides a much-needed popular history of the making of the Emancipation Proclamation and its subsequent impact on race relations in America.

In the tradition of Garry Wills's award-winning Lincoln at Gettysburg, Klingaman reconstructs the events that led to Lincoln's momentous decision.He takes us from Lincoln's inauguration through the outbreak of the Civil War and the Confederates' early military victories.Despite the Abolitionists' urging, Lincoln was reluctant to issue an edict freeing the slaves lest it alienate loyal border states.A succession of military reverses led Lincoln to try to obtain congressional approval of gradual, compensated emancipation. But when all his plans failed, Lincoln finally began drafting an emancipation proclamation as a military weapon-what he described as his "last card" against the rebellion.

Finally issued on January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end the war-or slavery-overnight, andKlingaman follows the story through two more years of bloody war before final Union victory and Lincoln's tragic assassination. The book concludes with a brief discussion of how the Emancipation Proclamation-its language and the circumstances in which it was issued-have shaped American history. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Long, Deserving Road
William Klingaman's book, "Abraham Lincoln and the Road to Emancipation" traces the personal and social development of emancipation in the the 1860s in a refreshing and enlightening way.

By blending both historical events, with the inner turmoil of Lincoln, Klingaman sheds new light on the processes that lead to the historical proclaimation. The Lincoln in this book is torn between his desire to do what is right vs. what he perceives his Constitutional duties. Klingaman doesn't shy away from the reality that Lincoln initially didn't favor emancipation over saving the union, but embraces his struggle and his eventual turn around. This allows for a more dynamic, interesting Lincoln to shine through. Lincoln would finally do the right thing, which we come to understand the depth and complexity of his decision.

For Lincoln fans, for people with a casual interest, I highly recommend this book for a new view on an incredible man during incredible times.

Superb history
Engrossing and lucid, Mr. Klingaman has written a superb book on a subject that is given little scrutiny. Filled with anecdotes and witticisms this book should be read by those who are sick of the usual fat best sellers.

The History of the Emancipation Proclamation
Klingaman's book concentrates on President Lincoln's issuance of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation of September 22, 1862, and the Final Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863. On a closely-related subject, the book also discusses the Union Army's gradual use of African-American soldiers as a means to winning the Civil War.

Klingaman focuse on the changes in Lincoln's attitude towards emancipation and his gradual assumption of a strong leadership role. He also points out that many of Lincoln's decisions were forced upon him by the political and military circumstances of the War. Thus, Klingaman describes how Lincoln's original goal in the War was the preservation of the Union. He resisted pressure from the Abolitionists and from the Radical Republicans to emancipate the slaves in order to avoid antagonizing the border states and those in the North who would not have fought a war to free the slaves. As political pressures changed, and as the North suffered setbacks in the Virginia theatre of the war, the pressures on Lincoln changed. Although the seeds of the Emancipation had been planted earlier, as Klingaman shows, Lincoln used the end Lee's invasion of the North at Antietam as the fulcrum to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and followed it up with the Proclamation of January 1, 1863. Klingaman explains well how the issuance of the Proclamation helped change the momentum of the War, militarily, politically, and internationally.

This book is not a work of new scholarship but it is valuable and worth reading nonetheless. Klingaman does a good job of emphasizing both the military and political aspects of the War, while many books concentrate on one or the other. I thought the book had particularly good insights to offer on Lincoln's relationship with Union General George McClellan.

Klingaman's Lincoln is primarily a politician and a pragmatist more than a political theorist. Lincoln's backwoods humor comes through well in the book as does his depression and sadness resulting from the heavy weight of his public and private trials. There are effective descriptions of pre-war Washington, D.C. which are followed by further descriptions of the way the city and our nation changed with the industrialization wrought by the War.

There are good textual discussions of both the Prelimary and Final Emancipation Proclamations which emphasize the compromises Lincoln had to make to politics rather than the role of ideas.
Finally, the book briefly discusses Emancipation following the conclusion of the War and points out eloquently how much remained and still remains to be done to bring about racial equality.

This book is a balanced and thoughtful history of the Emancipation for the reader interested in a seminal moment of our Nation's history.

The Growth of Lincoln
This book is a good examination of Lincoln's policy regarding Emancipation. The author points out the growth of Lincoln from a disoragnized beginning to a master politician/statesman as President of the United States. The author fairly contrasts the differing political pressures of the Radical Repbulicans and the loyal Border State politicians in regared to the policy of Emancipation. Lincoln's consistent theme that slavery was a sin of the entire nation North and South. The policy of Emancipation was interrelated and effected by the military triumphs and tradegies. I disagree with the author on the point that Lincoln's policy to Emancipation showed his "passive nature". I believe his policy on Emancipation showed his consistency and greatness. The consistency of his belief in the Constitution and his belief that if slavery were properly limted under the Constitution it would die a natural death. His ultimate goal, never ending despite the tradegy of the war, was that the Union must be preserved. His greatness was to adapt to the changing opportunities caused by the war in a way which ennobled and redeemed the Nation and its people. ... Read more

Book Description

Antiwar protest has long been an under-reported component of the Civil War story. "Heaven Will Frown on Such a Cause as This" traces the life stories of six men in northern states who denounced the war against the Confederacy. These men were called "copperheads" by their opponents, but they labeled themselves "Peace Democrats." ... Read more

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This book is a good overview of Lincoln's life.
The author has purposely addressed the dearth of readable and manageable accounts of Lincoln's life and career. Young people and adults alike will find this book valuable. Although brief compared to the usual tomes writtenon this subject, the reader will gain a good understanding of the formationof Lincoln's character and magnitude of what he a accomplished. Theauthor's style is smooth and engaging allowing the reader to think aboutthe subject matter rather than struggling from one paragraph to the next. Ifound that the end of the book came quickley and without great labor. Thecurious reader will come away from this book with a desire for moreknowledge and understanding of this great man. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the most popular series ever published for young Americans, these classics have been praised alike by parents, teachers, and librarians. With these lively, inspiring, fictionalized biographies -- easily read by children of eight and up -- today's youngster is swept right into history. ... Read more

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Lincoln's life told through a series of woodcut prints
"True Stories About Abraham Lincoln" features woodcut illustrations by Charles Turzak, with accompanying stories from Lincoln's life by Ruth Belov Gross.The text is printed in red ink opposite the black woodcut prints.The stories deal with both the triumphs and tragedies of Lincoln's life.However, the woodcuts dictate what parts of Lincoln's life are included or omitted.Consequently, there is no reference to the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Civil War is dealt with in rather general terms.Still, with each two-page spread a separate unit, this book is easily accessible by young readers, who will find the artwork as fascinating as the stories and might be interested in doing something similar as an art project.

Brings Lincoln to life for elementary school-age children.
He's a lot more than a face on a penny.This little paperbck contains many true tales about Lincoln's life, from his birth in a log cabin, his hard work on the farm, the first book he owned, up to his presidency andassasination.The 22 stories are very short and written in simplelanguage.The text is easy for even young children understand, but some ofthe topics are heavy, including the death of Lincoln's mother while he wasstill a child.This book brings to life the humanity of Lincoln as a boyand a man.It is illustrated by black and white woodcut prints, with redink for the text. ... Read more

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6 volume masterpeice
If you manage to read all six volumes of Sandburg's labor of love, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment, and you will know Abraham Lincoln inside and out.At least as much as this rather secretive man allowed anyone to see.When I finished, I felt like an old friend had left my life.That said, at times Sandburg sorely needed a better editor.He would run on forever with newspaper accounts of basically the same thing, as if he had to hammer home the point.Each and every visitor that ever applied to Lincoln for anything is recorded.We get the picture 3 pages ago.The research must have been prodigious.The 1st volume was rather poetic in the beginning, not surprising from such a one as Sandburg.Mostly, my interest never flagged.Six months it took me to read it.And am very glad I did. ... Read more