Abraham Lincoln, the greatest of all American presidents, left us a vast legacy of writings, some of which are among the most famous in our history. Lincoln was a marvelous writer—from the humblest letter to his great speeches, including his inaugural addresses, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address. His sentences were so memorably crafted that many resonate across the years. "Fourscore and seven years ago," begins the Gettysburg Address, "our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." In 1940, the prolific author and historian Philip Van Doren Stern produced this volume as a guide to Lincoln's life through his writings. Stern's "Life of Abraham Lincoln" is a full biography of the man and includes a detailed chronology. Stern has collected all the essential texts of Lincoln's public life, from his first public address—a stump speech in New Salem, Illinois, in 1832 for an election he went on to lose—to his last piece of public writing, a pass to a congressman who was to visit the president the day after Lincoln went to Ford's Theater on April 14, 1865. Some 275 such documents are collected and placed in their historical context. Together with the "Life" and the Introduction, "Lincoln in His Writings," by noted historian Allan Nevins, they give a full and vivid picture of Abraham Lincoln.

A groundbreaking, revelatory history of Abraham Lincoln's plan to secure a just and lasting peace after the Civil War-a vision that inspired future presidents as well as the world's most famous peacemakers, including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a story of war and peace, race and reconciliation

At the heart of the 'LINCOLN Complete 7 Volume Edition' lies a splendid assortment of biographies, speeches and debates, Civil War telegrams, letters, presidential orders, and proclamations that together offer a panoramic view of the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. This collection, through its diversity of literary stylesfrom the epistolary to the rhetoricalprovides an unparalleled glimpse into the historical and cultural milieu of the United States during its most tumultuous period. The works included stand out not only for their historical significance but also for their contributions to the literary landscape of America, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of Lincoln's multi-faceted persona and leadership during the Civil War. The assembled writersTheodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln himself, Carl Schurz, Francis F. Browne, and Joseph Choatebring a rich tapestry of perspectives to this collection. Their backgrounds, ranging from presidential to ambassadorial, offer a multi-dimensional view of Lincoln's policy and personality, further enriched by their direct or historical engagement with his presidency. This anthology aligns with both the American literary tradition and historical narrative, providing a scholarly exploration of Lincolns enduring impact on American society and governance. The 'LINCOLN Complete 7 Volume Edition' is an essential read for anybody with an interest in American history, politics, and literature. By presenting an array of literary forms and perspectives, this collection not only commemorates Lincoln's legacy but also encourages a deeper scholarly engagement with the texts. Readers are invited to explore the breadth of insight and the diverse narratives that this anthology presents, making it a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of one of America's most pivotal eras and one of its most revered leaders.

Dispelling common myths and misunderstandings, this book provides a fascinating and historically accurate portrayal of the 1858 Almanac Trial that establishes both Lincoln's character and his considerable abilities as a trial lawyer. Even after the mythical elements are removed, the true story of Abraham Lincoln and the Almanac Trial is a compelling tale of courtroom drama that involves themes of friendship and loyalty. Abraham Lincoln's Most Famous Case: The Almanac Trial sets the record straight: it examines how the dual myths of the dramatic cross-examination and the forged almanac came to be, describes how Lincoln actually won the case, and establishes how Lincoln's behavior at the trial was above reproach. The book outlines three conflicting versions of how Lincoln won the Almanac Trial—with a dramatic cross-examination; with an impassioned final argument; or with a forged almanac—and then traces the transformation of these three stories over the decades as they were retold in the forms of campaign rhetoric, biography, history, and legal analysis. After the author exposes the inaccuracies of previous attempts to tell the story of the trial, he refers to primary sources to reconstruct the probable course of the trial and address questions regarding how Lincoln achieved his victory—and whether he freed a murderer.

The untold story of how one sensational trial propelled a self-taught lawyer and a future president into the national spotlight. In May of 1856, the steamboat Effie Afton barreled into a pillar of the Rock Island Bridge, unalterably changing the course of American transportation history. Within a year, long-simmering tensions between powerful steamboat interests and burgeoning railroads exploded, and the nation’s attention, absorbed by the Dred Scott case, was riveted by a new civil trial. Dramatically reenacting the Effie Afton case—from its unlikely inception, complete with a young Abraham Lincoln’s soaring oratory, to the controversial finale—this “masterful” (Christian Science Monitor) account gives us the previously untold story of how one sensational trial propelled a self-taught lawyer and a future president into the national spotlight.