Relying on the recent scholarly biographies that have argued that
many famous Abraham Lincoln stories are myths, Freedman carefully
introduces a more realistic portrait than is usually found in
juvenile biographies. The well-loved tales of Abe (a nickname he
hated) courting Anne Rutledge, splitting rails in New Salem, or
walking miles to obtain books are put into perspective with a few
sentences. Lincoln comes alive as a conscientious lawyer who put
clients at ease with stories but was a hopeless slob with files and
papers. Freedman also offers a concise but excellent picture of
Lincoln's struggle with the ethics and the politics of slavery, as
well as his frustrating search for the right general to lead the
Union troops. The 90 black-and-white photographs are highlighted by
fine book design and by Freedman's comments about the nature of
photography in the mid-1800's. While the photographs contribute
much, it is Freedman's talent for putting the right details in
uncomplicated prose that provides a very sharp focus for this
Lincoln portrait. Appendixes include Lincoln quotes from 1832-1865,
a description of Lincoln sites, notes on materials consulted, and
an index. This is a necessary purchase for all collections - and an
opportunity for librarians to scrutinize earlier biographies on
Lincoln that have long occupied their shelves. (Kirkus Reviews)
A description of the boyhood, marriage, and young professional life of Abraham Lincoln includes his presidential years and also reflects on the latest scholarly thoughts about our Civil War president.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!