Lincoln Reconsidered: Essays on the Civil War Era
by David Herbert Donald
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Description
A "brilliant" look at America's sixteenth president by the New York Times -bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lincoln ( American Historical Review ). First published in 1956 and revised and updated for the twenty-first century, Lincoln Reconsidered is a masterpiece of Civil War scholarship. In a dozen eloquent, witty, and incisive essays, the author of the definitive biography of Abraham Lincoln offers a fresh perspective on topics previously shrouded in myth and hagiography and show more brings the president's tough-mindedness, strategic acumen, and political flexibility into sharp focus. From Lincoln's patchwork education to his contradictory interpretations of the Constitution and the legacy of the Founding Fathers, David Herbert Donald reveals the legal mind behind the legend of the Great Emancipator. "Toward a Reconsideration of the Abolitionists" sheds new light on the radicalism of the antislavery movement, while "Herndon and Mary Lincoln" brilliantly characterizes the complicated relationship between two of the president's closest companions. "Getting Right with Lincoln" and "The Folklore Lincoln" draw on the methods of cultural anthropology to produce a provocative analysis of Lincoln as symbol. No historian has done more to enhance our understanding of Lincoln's presidency and the causes and effects of the Civil War than Donald. Lincoln Reconsidered is an entertaining and accessible introduction to his work and a must-read for every student of American history. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Basically a collection of essays, this explores the little understood sides of Lincoln often by meta-analysis of historical works and primary sources. Basically, reading this after seeing the near canonization of Trump on (possibly?) the end of the GOP, it is interesting to read of the fervent adoration aimed at Lincoln from the birth of the GOP continuing on to memorial dinners and organized events (we still celebrate his birthday) decades later. Other things of interest:
- Lincoln was a confirmed Whig which was abhorred by supreme executive power and this made him conciliatory and even deferential to other organs of government in a way that the modern GOP does not align with
- Lincoln's assassination on Good Friday and obscure birth fit show more into a mythic hero arc exploited by some religious figures.
- Lincoln's law partner and associate Herndon fabricated much that is false about Lincoln, such as a loveless marriage with Mary Todd, etc. show less
- Lincoln was a confirmed Whig which was abhorred by supreme executive power and this made him conciliatory and even deferential to other organs of government in a way that the modern GOP does not align with
- Lincoln's assassination on Good Friday and obscure birth fit show more into a mythic hero arc exploited by some religious figures.
- Lincoln's law partner and associate Herndon fabricated much that is false about Lincoln, such as a loveless marriage with Mary Todd, etc. show less
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Author Information
24+ Works 6,446 Members
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and historian David Herbert Donald was born October 1, 1920 in Goodman, Miss. He married Aida DiPace in 1955, they had one child, Bruce Randall. He received an A.B. in 1941 from Millsaps College; an A.M. in 1942, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1946. Donald has been an associate professor of history show more at Smith College and a professor of history at Columbia University; Princeton University and Johns Hopkins University. He was also Harry C. Warren Professor of American History, chair of the graduate program in American civilization, and professor emeritus at Harvard University. Much of Donald's work involves exploring and interpreting the American Civil War and its central figure, Abraham Lincoln. Some recent works includes Look Homeward: A Life of Thomas Wolfe, Lincoln, and Charles Sumner and the Coming of the Civil War, 1996. He received Pulitzer Prizes in biography for both Charles Sumner and Look Homeward. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1956
- People/Characters
- Abraham Lincoln
- Important places
- USA
- Important events
- American Civil War (1861 | 1865)
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 973.7 — History & geography History of North America United States Civil War Era (1857-1865)
- LCC
- E457.8 .D69 — History of the United States United States Civil War period, 1861-1865 Lincoln's administrations, 1861-April 15, 1865
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 313
- Popularity
- 101,965
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.83)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 14
