Abraham Lincoln - The True Story of a Great Life (Vol. 1&2) offers a richly textured biographical portrait that combines documentary testimony, political history, personal reminiscence, and moral reflection. Across its two volumes, the work traces Lincoln's rise from frontier obscurity to national leadership, situating his life within the crises of slavery, sectional conflict, and democratic self-definition. Its range of styles-from anecdotal recollection to public record and interpretive commentary-makes it both a historical source and a literary act of remembrance. William Herndon, Lincoln's law partner, and Jesse W. Weik, his collaborator, bring together intimate knowledge, interviews, letters, and recollections from those who knew Lincoln in varied settings. Their work belongs to the late nineteenth-century effort to preserve Civil War memory and define Lincoln's meaning for the nation. The resulting narrative reflects the tensions of biography itself: reverence balanced with scrutiny, public greatness seen through private habit, and myth tested against evidence. Readers interested in Lincoln, American political culture, or the making of historical memory will find this two-volume study indispensable. It offers not merely a life story, but a layered encounter with character, ambition, grief, humor, and statesmanship. Its enduring value lies in the dialogue it fosters between firsthand witness, national history, and the evolving legend of Lincoln. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand-picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Autorentext
Jesse W. Weik (1857-1930), was a collaborator with William Herndon in writing the first authoritative biography of Abraham Lincoln.
Zusammenfassung
Abraham Lincoln The True Story of a Great Life is a biography of an American lawyer and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War, and succeeded in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery, bolstering the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy. The author of the work, Jesse W. Weik, combined his research material with primary research material compiled by Lincoln's former law partner William Herndon, as well as several hundred pages of letters and essays written by Herndon himself setting out his own personal reminiscences of Lincoln, and forged the material into the first authoritative biography of Lincoln.