In Isaac Arnold's book, The Life Of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Arnold portyays Lincoln how he knew him. Isaac was aquainted with Abe Lincoln for over a quarter century, and that helped him in completing this wonderful biography. It does, however, lack several important facts that have now been discovered. Since Mr. Arnold wrote his book twenty years after Lincoln's death, the United States didnt have time to realize what an amazing and influential person Lincoln was. New data also shows that some of his facts in the book are proven to be wrong. Even with those minor details that are false, it doesnt take away from the intensity of the book. Being able to read his speeches and visualize Lincoln speaking is amazing and Mr. Arnold does a very good job of painting that picture.

Brian Dirck's new book on the U.S. and C.S. presidents establishes a surprising amount of continuity in American political thinking between the ratification contest of the late 1780s and the sectional conflict of the 1850s and 1860s. In doing so, it goes a long way to tie together the American Revolution and the Civil War.

In 1787, advocates of ratification of the federal constitution argued that without it, they Union would dissolve. Their vision of American Union was, as Dirck puts it (I paraphrase here), one of impersonal association, a community of strangers. Their opponents, the Antifederalists/Republicans, doubted that the Federalists' apocalyptic rhetoric accurately described reality, because the Antifederalists could not imagine that mere breakdown of the Articles of Confederation would destroy the America they knew in their hearts. They were at times downright blase' about the problems the Federalists perceived in the 1780s because of their sanguine faith in American nationality.

As Dirck shows, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis had essentially the same understandings of America: Lincoln, the Federalist, and Davis, the Antifederalist. It makes for a very engaging argument, and one that will be of great use for undergraduate teaching.

The only shortcomings of the book come at the very end, where Dirck says that Davis laid the ground for the idea that blacks were depraved and inferior by depicting the Yankees (that is, northern whites) that way. (p. 239) I for one find it unconvincing that anti-black sentiment had its origins in anti-white propaganda. Secondly, he says that Davis' statement that the United States had set upon a policy in which "no quarter is to be given and no sex to be spared" had an innovative "sexual" undertone. (pp. 238-39) Yet, Davis' claim certainly was not innovative, but was a paraphrase of a claim Thomas Jefferson had made about the British king in the Declaration of Independence (Jefferson claimed that George had sicced the Indians, whose rule of war knew no discrimination of age or sex, upon the Americans). These are minor objections, however, and the book certainly repays a careful perusal.

This is a paperback reprint of a book published in 1978. The message today is as timely as it was then -- or, for that matter as it was during Civil War America. Professor Nichols book is a good overview of Indian policy during the Civil War-- an often overlooked part of the Lincoln story.

The book begins with an overview of the system of Indian administration as it had developed by 1860. It was dominated by the political spoils system and by corruption resulting from the power accorded to the Indian agents. As a master of the art of pragmatic politics, Lincoln used the system -- as he needed to do--to hold the Union together-resulting in tragedy for too many of our country's Indian wards.

The book discusses the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma (then Indian territory) and their relationship to both the Union and the Confederacy. The story picks up focus, though, in the discussion of the Minnesota Sioux rebellion, the summary trials and capital sentences of over 300 Sioux Indians, and Lincoln's remission of the death sentence in all but 39 cases. Nichols tells this story well, perhaps giving Lincoln's actions less credit and less courage than they may deserve.

The book discusses Lincoln's attempts in 1862 to reform Indian policy, which were defeated by War exegencies and by Congressional inaction.He discusses a famous meeting held between Lincoln and the Indian chiefs in 1863 in the White House, again perhaps undervaluing Lincoln's intentions and the difficulties he faced.

He discusses the policy resulting from the Sioux war of concentrating the Indians under the control of the military with unsuccessful and inhumane results in Arizona and New Mexico. The book also includes an account of the too little known Sand Hill Massacre in Colorado in 1864.

The treatment of the American Indians does not constitute one of our nation's or of President Lincoln's prouder accomplishments. Professor Nichols is correct that this story deserves to be known as part of our history. The book ties Lincoln's treatment of the Indians to prevailing ideologies at the time involving a disprespect of cultural differences, to westward expansion, industrialization, the political patronage system, and, first and foresmost, the Civil War. Even Nichols appears to acknowledge that given the War, there was little that might have been done differently at the time in the way of systematic reform.

As is unfortunately the case with most histories of Indian affairs, it is easier, as Nichols does, to find a great deal of deserved fault than it is to develop answers, as he does not. This book is still worth reading as a good history of Indian affairs during the Civil War era.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in studying Lincoln or the Civil War. The author does an excellent job in presenting a mostly unbiased opinion. By stating in the introduction that he allows room for error in his opinions, he sets himself aside from the fanatics and characterizes himself more as a historian in search of the truth than as a man trying to paint Lincoln as he thinks he should be viewed. Moreover, the breath, not sacrificing the depth, of this book is incredible. It covers Lincoln's family and personal life and carries the reader all the way through his assassination. The Lincoln Nobody Knows presents Lincoln as both a down to earth man and as a complex, indispensable historical figure. It causes one to revaluate what he previously held to be fact about Lincoln and it allows room for interpretation-the author doesn't always give an opinion for the reader. Most are "inclined, quite naturally, to discover in Lincoln the beliefs that they themselves espouse," (57). This remains feasible since Lincoln will always be an enigma, but to his credit Current presents sound facts for his arguments and presents both sides, drawing upon many respectable sources. He begins by describing Lincoln's personal and family life-his mother's possible illegitimate birth all the way to Lincoln's relationships with women and Ann Rutledge specifically. It then goes into his involvement in the beginnings of the civil war, his policies and their changes, and the way he conducted the war. That being done, the author finishes by discussing his larger role as a politician, an emancipator, a commander in chief, a martyr and a myth. All of this does well in presenting the multidimensionality of Abraham Lincoln, and it makes one realize that there are not easy answers to questions about good old Abe. It is important to note that much of this text is controversial and a portion of it has implications beyond his contributions to American history-it attempts to define who Lincoln was as a man, not as an idol.

The United States may be a liberal nation, but liberal belief differ. This metahistory dissects these philosophic strains, and explain how the liberal viewpoint breeds consensus and contention. Lincoln's philosophy and that of other thinkers are clearly explained. The author conclusions are lucid and explicit making it a joy to follow his reasoning.

With its reproduction of over 50 rare prints from the 19th century, Harold Holzer's LINCOLN SEEN & HEARD is a rare treasure trove of Lincoln images. Holzer, author of several studies on Abraham Lincoln, offers rich biographical and historical details during his visual and textual analysis.

Holzer's study of Lincoln's public image in iconography and language is logically divided into thematic chapters. In his study of the comtemporary visual iconography of Abraham Lincoln, Holzer examines images of Lincoln as the Great Emancipator and as the Commander in Chief. He also analyses images of Lincoln's assissination and compares prints of Lincoln and the Confederacy's Jefferson Davis. In his discussion of Lincoln's language. Holzer addresses Lincoln's impromtu oratory as well as his two most famous texts, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address. Holzer's book is well-balanced and richly documented. Very readable, this book should interest both historical scholars and general readers.

In this juvenile biography for younger elementary students, Clyde Robert Bulla tells story of how Abraham Lincoln grew up to become a great man whose birthday was celebrating as a way of honoring his life. Bulla describes Lincoln's boyhood, his years as a lawyer and legislator, his election to the Presidency and the tragedy of the Civil War. He also explains the beginning of the holiday observance of Lincoln's birthday and the ways American has paid tribute to the Great Emancipator over the years. Obviously, since Bulla wrote about "Lincoln's Birthday" in 1965, this was before Presidents' Day effectively combined the February birthdays of Lincoln and Washington. Ernest Crichlow provides the illustrations for this book, which is part of the Crowell Holiday Book series an in which young readers will find basic information about both Abraham Lincoln and the holiday celebrating his birthday.

"Lincoln's Birthday" is part of the "Best Holiday Books" series, which tells not only about the life of Abraham Lincoln but also how his birthday became a holiday, which was certainly interesting. Dennis Brindell Fradin sketches out Lincoln's life, including many of the most familiar stories about Honest Abe. The book does not go into detail on the Civil War, but provides a concise explanation that is appropriate for elementary school students. The last chapters not only explain how Lincoln's birthday became a holiday, but provides suggestions for how students can celebrate Lincoln's life in school from learning about Civil War songs like "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" to studying Lincoln in the context of Black History Month. Fradin even refers to a couple of well known movies about Lincoln, "Young Mr. Lincoln" and "Abe Lincoln in Illinois." "Lincoln's Birthday" is illustrated with photographs, paintings, drawings and etchings that provide a nice variety of styles, which should prove useful in inspiring young artists to come up with their own tribute's to the nation's 16th President. However, teachers should be prepared when students learn that once upon a time most states had two holidays in February honoring great Presidents and not just one.

Not too many books cover the subjects of Copperheadism during the Civil War or how such a group of people ever evolved. Klement truly defines the persons or people who were Copperheads of the north that heavily favored democratic policy and beliefs during the 1850's to 1870's period of time. It was interesting to read how postwar northerners defined Copperheads as anyone who sympathized with the south during the war when truly some Copperheads favored anti-war policies and states rights. This book is very detailed about popular northern democrats and political figures who were at odds against the Lincoln administration. This book covers a lot. For example, details about economic strongholds on midwestern farmers helped define an anti-war sentiment as prices were being controlled by northeastern interest groups such as railroad companies and republican authority. Many midwestern political opinion and feelings about the war are covered while the mid-atlantic states fight the Lincoln administration in favor of the south succeeding. Klement brings a very detailed look at how Copperheadism evolved and fought to survive as an ideal way of life for some northerners who refused the war, Lincoln and a northern stronghold over the south. I simply can't recommend a better book for covering such a heavily defined and detailed topic that Klement presents.

This reprint of the sole extant copy of a tract published in 1852, which was probably but not certainly given to Abraham by Mary Todd, is inof itself an excellent daily devotional. Unlike many contemporary devotionals, the commentary after the daily passage is brief, to the point, and timeless. Carl Sandberg's prolog provides us with some further information about Lincon's faith.