The Lincoln Nobody Knows

"Abraham Lincoln as politician, president, and human being comes to life in all the conflicts, paradoxes, and seeming contradictions that surround him. Packed with fascinating details, The Lincoln Nobody Knows is a study of the obscure and misunderstood facets of the great statesman's career and private life."--Back cover

Unlike other biographies on Abraham Lincoln, "The Lincoln No One Knows" focuses on the mysteries that continue to bewilder those who try to understand the man. "Both edifying and entertaining, this is an innovative work, adeptly written and well researched", says "Civil War", the magazine of the Civil War Society.

Describes the events surrounding Abraham Lincoln's historic speech following the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, how he responded to the politics of the time, and the importance of that speech.

Gabor Boritt has invited nine leading authorities to shed new light on the greatest battle in our history, focusing in particular on the unknown, the controversial, and what might have been. What did the battle do to the people of Gettysburg? What is behind the rise of Joshua Chamberlain to the status of the Hero of the Battle? How did the common soldiers influence the battle? Readers are treated to a fresh account of Pickett's Charge from the rarely-described perspective of the Union soldiers, and to careful new analyses of the battlefield actions of General Ewell and General Daniel Sickles. And throughout the volume, there is much vivid writing, such as a stirring account of the moment when General Winfield Scott Hancock ordered the First Minnesota to "take those colors," sending the Minnesotans into a struggle that would cost most of them their lives but would help save the day for the Union. Offering the insights of America's eminent Civil War scholars, The Gettysburg Nobody Knows provides a marvelously informative reconsideration of this epic event.

Few politicians have fascinated the American people as much as Abraham Lincoln. The 1990s witnessed heightened interest in the sixteenth president and a flood of books about him that continues to the present. A recent tally indicates that at least 14,000 books and pamphlets have been written about him. The last guide to the best Lincoln books was produced in 1946. Since then several thousand more titles have been published. As a result, anyone interested in reading about him faces a daunting task in seeking out the books that offer the keenest insights into the man and the legend and lore that surround him. Michael Burkhimer's 100 Essential Lincoln Books offers a guide to this vast body of Lincoln literature. He chooses books that are indispensable for both book collectors and readers intent on learning more about Lincoln. The importance of each work is outlined with an emphasis on how it has contributed to Lincoln studies. Burkhimer's criteria for selection are based on the book's originality, sources, interpretations, writing style, and overall contribution. Titles are arranged chronologically in order of their first publication, ranging from 1866 (Francis B. Carpenter's Six Months at the While House with Abraham Lincoln) to 2002 (William Lee Miller's Lincoln's Virtues). The recent resurgence of interest in Lincoln is reflected in that almost one-third of the books described here have appeared since 1990. To further aid the curious Lincoln reader, each title is classified under a general heading, such as assassination, biography, family and genealogy, and reminiscences. Indexes of authors and headings are also included.

A unique walking guide to Manhattan, from the author of The New York Nobody Knows. --Amazon.com.