A radical reinterpretation of America's greatest president.
Where previous Lincoln biographers describe his temperament as "moderate," "passive," or even "conservative,"historian Richard Striner offers a stunningly original perspectivethat will shed significant new light on one of the most studied figures in American history. Striner shows Lincoln's audacity as no other book has ever done. By emphasizing the workings of Lincoln's mind-stressing his cunning, his overall honesty, strategic thinking-even his ability to change his mind-Striner looks anew at many topics and themes important to Lincoln's story that either revise or add new meaning to the work of previous biographers. His insights into Lincoln's life, but also into antebellum America, and the military and political history of the Civil War, make this book indispensable for well-read armchair historians, seasoned students of Lincoln, the Civil War, or the American presidency and newcomers alike.
Autorentext
Historian Richard Striner is the author of Father Abraham: Lincoln's Relentless Struggle to End Slavery (Oxford), Lincoln's Way: How Six Great Presidents Created American Power (R&L) and many other works on American history. He resides in Pasadena, Maryland.
Klappentext
A radical reinterpretation of America's greatest president. Where previous Lincoln biographers describe his temperament as "moderate," "passive," or even "conservative," historian Richard Striner offers a stunningly original perspective that will shed significant new light on one of the most studied figures in American history. Striner shows Lincoln's audacity as no other book has ever done. By emphasizing the workings of Lincoln's mind-stressing his cunning, his overall honesty, strategic thinking-even his ability to change his mind-Striner looks anew at many topics and themes important to Lincoln's story that either revise or add new meaning to the work of previous biographers. His insights into Lincoln's life, but also into antebellum America, and the military and political history of the Civil War, make this book indispensable for well-read armchair historians, seasoned students of Lincoln, the Civil War, or the American presidency and newcomers alike.
Inhalt
Table of Contents
Preface
PART ONE: PREPARATIONS
Chapter One: Rough Beginnings
Chapter Two: Initiations
Chapter Three: Rites of Passage
PART TWO: CRISIS OF AMBITION
Chapter Four: Improvising
Chapter Five: Into the Maelstrom
Chapter Six: Quest for Purpose
PART THREE: RISE TO DESTINY
Chapter Seven: Containing Slavery
Chapter Eight: Thwarting Douglas
Chapter Nine: Disunion
PART FOUR: AT THE HELM
Chapter Ten: Crisis
Chapter Eleven: Chain of Steel
Chapter Twelve: Transformation
Chapter Thirteen: Race against Time
PART FIVE: TRIUMPH
Chapter Fourteen: Death Struggle
Chapter Fifteen: Stolen Future
Epilogue
Notes
Index