First published 2013
President Abraham Lincoln stands before the crowd at Gettysburg, preparing to deliver words that will echo through history. The nation bleeds from civil war, and families mourn their dead on the very battlefield where Lincoln now speaks. Daugherty places readers in that November moment in 1863, showing Lincoln as he transforms a brief cemetery dedication into something far greater. The president struggles to find words worthy of the soldiers who died there, knowing that his speech must somehow honor their sacrifice while healing a fractured country. Through vivid illustrations, Lincoln's internal conflict becomes clear as he grapples with the weight of leadership during America's darkest hour. The story captures both the public moment and the private man, revealing how Lincoln's simple yet powerful words emerged from his deep understanding of loss and hope.
Genres: biography, american-civil-war, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figure
Setting: Gettysburg
Period: 1863
48 pages · Hardcover · Albert Whitman & Company