First published 2011
David Herbert Donald examines Abraham Lincoln's transformation from his modest Kentucky origins to the pinnacle of American political power. The Pulitzer Prize winner focuses on Lincoln's political evolution as he navigated increasingly complex circles in Illinois before assuming the presidency during the nation's greatest crisis. Donald argues that Lincoln's capacity for personal growth enabled him to transcend his limited experience and become an effective moral leader. The biography traces how an unprepared politician developed into the president who ended slavery and maintained national unity during the Civil War. Donald presents Lincoln's character development as the key to understanding his historical significance. The book offers readers insight into the personal qualities that allowed Lincoln to guide America through its most divisive period and emerge as one of the nation's most accomplished presidents.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-growth, historical-figure
Setting: Kentucky, Illinois
Period: 19th Century
714 pages · Kindle Edition · Simon & Schuster