"An intimate character portrait and fascinating inquiry into the
basis of Lincoln's energetic, curious mind."--The Wall Street
Journal
WINNER OF THE BARONDESS/LINCOLN AWARD - From the New York Times
bestselling author of A. Lincoln and American Ulysses, a revelatory
glimpse into the intellectual journey of our sixteenth president through
his private notes to himself, explored together here for the first
time
A deeply private man, shut off even to those who worked closely with
him, Abraham Lincoln often captured "his best thoughts," as he called
them, in short notes to himself. He would work out his personal stances
on the biggest issues of the day, never expecting anyone to see these
frank, unpolished pieces of writing, which he'd then keep close at hand,
in desk drawers and even in his top hat. The profound importance of
these notes has been overlooked, because the originals are scattered
across several different archives and have never before been brought
together and examined as a coherent whole.
Now, renowned Lincoln historian Ronald C. White walks readers through
twelve of Lincoln's most important private notes, showcasing our
greatest president's brilliance and empathy, but also his very human
anxieties and ambitions. We look over Lincoln's shoulder as he grapples
with the problem of slavery, attempting to find convincing rebuttals to
those who supported the evil institution ("As I would not be a slave,
so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.");
prepares for his historic debates with Stephen Douglas; expresses his
private feelings after a defeated bid for a Senate seat ("With me, the
race of ambition has been a failure--a flat failure"); voices his
concerns about the new Republican Party's long-term prospects; develops
an argument for national unity amidst a secession crisis that would
ultimately rend the nation in two; and, for a president many have viewed
as not religious, develops a sophisticated theological reflection in the
midst of the Civil War ("it is quite possible that God's purpose is
something different from the purpose of either party"). Additionally, in
a historic first, all 111 Lincoln notes are transcribed in the appendix,
a gift to scholars and Lincoln buffs alike.
These are notes Lincoln never expected anyone to read, put into context
by a writer who has spent his career studying Lincoln's life and words.
The result is a rare glimpse into the mind and soul of one of our
nation's most important figures.
