Dimensions
136 x 203 x 13mm
A companion book to the film for young readers
Steven Spielberg focused his movie Lincoln on the 16th President's tumultous final months in office, when he pursued a course of action to end the Civil War, re-unite the country, and abolish slavery. Invited by the filmmakers to write a new Lincoln book as a companion to the film, Harold Holzer portrays Abraham Lincoln's life and times as he evolves his views on slavery and maneuvers to end it.
Holzer's book starts on January 31, 1865, when Lincoln impatiently awaits word whether or not the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that would end slavery in America is passed by Congress. It was less than three months before he would be assassinated. The Amendment's passage would become the crowning achievement of his life, and the undisputed testament to his political genius. Drawing from letters, speeches, memoirs, documents by Lincoln and others, Holzer masterfully and dramatically recreates Lincoln's life story and actions as he came to the belief that slavery was "morally wrong," needed to be legally abolished, and how he made this his lifelong goal.
Fast-paced, filled with detail and incident, Holzer's newest Lincoln book, written especially for young readers, covers not only Lincoln's fierce resolve to end slavery but his upbringing in Kentucky and Illinois, through his work as a lawyer and congressman, his candidacies and victory in two Presidential elections, his duties in the Civil War as Commander-in-Chief, his actions as President, and his relationships with family and political associates. Holzer's portrayal of the 16th President, especially in his tumultuous final months in office--which is the focus of the Spielberg feature film starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln-provides fascinating insights into the life and actions of one of our greatest Presidents and the constant challenges he faced as he weighed his personal beliefs against his presidential duties in relation to the slavery issue.
This book also includes 30 archival photographs, a chronology, historical character list, text of several major Lincoln writings, a bibliography, and notes.
