Abraham Lincoln: A Life

Abraham Lincoln is arguably the most studied and admired of all Americans, and Michael Burlingame's two-volume biography, Lincoln: A Life, has been abridged and revised. This work reveals how Lincoln's character and personality were the North's secret weapon in the Civil War, and his influence remains unrivaled in the history of American public life. Burlingame chronicles Lincoln's childhood and early development, romantic attachments and losses, his love of learning, legal training, and courtroom career, as well as his political ambition, his term as congressman in the late 1840s, and his serious bouts of depression in early adulthood. He also recounts the Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln marriage and traces the mounting moral criticism of slavery that revived his political career and won him the presidency in 1860. Lincoln speaks to us as a champion of freedom, democracy, and national unity, and his personal example inspires us to become a model of psychological maturity, moral clarity, and unimpeachable integrity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 720 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2023
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

Sixteenth president of the United States, the Great Emancipator, and a surpassingly eloquent champion of national unity, freedom, and democracy, Abraham Lincoln is arguably the most studied and admired of all Americans. Michael Burlingame's astonishing Abraham Lincoln: A Life, an updated, condensed version of the 2,000-page two-volume set that The Atlantic hailed as one of the five best books of 2009, offers fresh interpretations of this endlessly fascinating American leader. Based on deep research in unpublished sources as well as newly digitized sources, this work reveals how Lincoln's character and personality were the North's secret weapon in the Civil War, the key variables that spelled the difference between victory and defeat. He was a model of psychological maturity and a fully individuated man whose influence remains unrivaled in the history of American public life.

Burlingame chronicles Lincoln's childhood and early development, romantic attachments and losses, his love of learning, legal training, and courtroom career as well as his political ambition, his term as congressman in the late 1840s, and his serious bouts of depression in early adulthood. Burlingame recounts, in fresh detail, the Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln marriage and traces the mounting moral criticism of slavery that revived his political career and won this Springfield lawyer the presidency in 1860. This abridgement delivers Burlingame's signature insight into Lincoln as a young man, a father, and a politician.

Lincoln speaks to us not only as a champion of freedom, democracy, and national unity but also as a source of inspiration for those who seek to build a more just and equitable society. His life and legacy continue to inspire generations of Americans, and his words remain a powerful testament to the power of human compassion, courage, and determination.

In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln is a towering figure in American history, and Michael Burlingame's Abraham Lincoln: A Life is an essential read for anyone who seeks to understand this remarkable man and his profound impact on the nation. This abridgement offers a concise yet comprehensive account of Lincoln's life, providing a deeper understanding of his character, personality, and political legacy. Lincoln's words and actions continue to inspire us to strive for a better world, and his legacy will endure for generations to come.

Weight: 1194g
Dimension: 165 x 244 x 56 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421445557
Edition number: Abridged Edition