This concise and elegant contribution to the Very Short Introduction series reintroduces the history that shaped the founding fathers, the history that they made, and what history has made of them. číst celé
The key to understanding America's 16th president comes not from dense biographic detail but directly from his own writings. Abraham Lincoln was a master of the English Language and his perspective on the American constitution, the Civil War and slavery can be easily pinpointed in his concise letters and addresses. Inside this book you will find: -A brief biography of Lincoln -Chronologically arranged excerpts of his writings and speeches, including the Gettysburg Address and Fragments on Slavery -Examples of his wit and wisdom from private memoranda -Cartoons and portraits of the time that throw light on the events he was involved in These extracts reveal Lincoln talents not only as a politician but as a philosopher, who approached practical politics with a keen observance of the larger questions they posed. For this reason, the wisdom of his writings reach beyond their historical context and have rich applications to the modern world. All content has been selected by Richard Bernstein, an outstanding authority on US history and the American Constitution, and each piece of writing is prefaced with explanatory notes. This beautifully illustrated volume is presented in a handsome slipcase and makes a truly wonderful gift.