First published 2012
David von Drehle examines how Abraham Lincoln evolved from an inexperienced frontier lawyer into a masterful wartime president during 1862. The author focuses on twelve critical months when the Union faced potential collapse. The federal government struggled with overwhelming challenges, the Treasury had no money, and the top general lay seriously ill. Meanwhile, the Confederacy appeared positioned for victory with its strong economy, skilled military commanders, and battlefield advantages. Von Drehle traces how Lincoln navigated this crisis through careful judgment and determination. The author shows how the president's decisions during this period changed the war's direction, brought forward the Union generals who would ultimately win, and inflicted crucial defeats on Confederate forces. The book reveals how Lincoln's leadership during these dark months shaped both his own character and the blueprint for modern industrial America. Von Drehle offers readers both an intimate character study of Lincoln's personal growth and a detailed account of the pivotal year that determined the nation's survival.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, military-history, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-growth, historical-figures
Setting: United States
Period: 1862
480 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt and Co.