Customer Reviews

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Illustrated

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Illustrated does what most history books (even great treatises) never manage to do - It captures the power and poignancy of the moment Abraham Lincoln rose to deliver what is one of the world's greatest statements on democratic governance and the human character.

Through Lincoln's own words and telling contemporary photographs, Jack Levin captures the raw emotion and historically charged atmosphere of an era when America was literally tearing itself apart. He goes beyond the commonplace telling of how Lincoln's address came about and what it came to mean, and gives us the sensory and emotional experience of an eye witness to momentous history in the making.

This book should be a cornerstone in every American's education about the times and events that have made us the nation we are today. It is also a telling reminder of what each generation must fight to preserve in order to give to future generations the legacy of American exceptionalism.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I cannot do this book justice with just some words on a screen... I am 27 years old and it takes alot for me to get a lump in my throat, but this book has done it as I sit here at work paging through this treasure. Over my life, I have read the words that Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg, but none have so deeply penetrated the depths of my soul as the format of this book. With each turn of the page comes another powerful line accompanied by another powerful image that reminds us that the Civil War was not some fable that took place in Ancient History. No. Jack E. Levin shows us that America, OUR America, OUR country, is not merely a geographical "place" on the globe, but rather an idea, a mindset, a unique human experience and that our history is one of uniquely AMERICAN character. This book should be required reading in ALL public schools. This book is not someone's subjective point-of-view passed off as fact. Quite the contrary. 'Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Illustrated' is the words of one divinely-inspired President, accompanied by the incredibly detailed photographs of past Americans who carried out and who died for the belief in humanity's ONLY opportunity to live as God intended, freely. With this book, Mr. Jack E. Levin has created his second masterpiece - his first being the American Hero and Patriot, Mark R. Levin.

An outstanding tribute to a seminal event. Jack Levin's selection of hauting photos coupled with the immortal words of Lincoln should be required in all classrooms. Although I'm ashamed to admit it, I hadn't read the entire Gettysburg Address since high school. This book renewed my interest in the Civil War.

Also featured is a moving prologue by Mark Levin.

It is abundantly clear to me that the Levin Family has embraced liberty, freedom, and patriotism. Would that we all do this in our respective families!

This illustrated version of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is remarkable in that it causes the reader to pause and reflect on Lincoln's words. Indeed, a reader who cherishes this nation will do so without much thought as to why, while a reader who does not value that which has been sacrificed will merely glance or gawk at the carefully selected pictures and art, and then proceed to pass judgment based on their prejudice of the preface's author.

The images and drawings bring Lincoln's words to life, and in equal measure remind us of what horrors await if our nation is torn asunder, and separated from our Constitution. Those that would have us adopt a new path based on some foreign model will utterly miss the poignant reminder that discarding the wisdom of our founders can only have one horrific outcome.

This is an excellent supplemental book for any family with children studying the Civil War or Lincoln. Those that enjoy Mark Levin's radio program will enjoy the window into his upbringing and the story of his father (and this book's creator), Jack Levin. Thank you both for your time and dedication to our great country! And a special thank you to Jack Levin for illustrating this important moment of history that staves off the erosive qualities of time.

What I really enjoy about this book is its simplicity. It's something that people of all ages can enjoy, from the very young to the very old. My grandson, aged 9 perused it quietly for over an hour and peppered me with questions afterward. (Like "What side was Texas on"?) I plan to give a copy to my dad for Father's day and I feel quite sure he'll enjoy it as well. It's not a book that will take more than an hour to read from front to back, but it's a book that you will want to savor slowly, and not stampede through. Each page has a few words from Lincoln's address, along with a reproduction of a Civil War era photo or painting. Lincoln made the short speech at an important time in our history and the book transports you to that period in time for a short period. All of the horror of war and the magnitude of the struggle come across in just a few pages. Very enjoyable and a great gift idea for kids, dads, moms...war nuts, anyone!

A very nice tribute to one of the greatest speeches of all time. The book vividly captures the spirit of the address, suffering of the divided country, and the enduring principles under which our nation was founded. I appreciate the work put into it and the careers of both Levins. I would have really liked a little more detailed summary of the battle than what is included, rather than an intimate preface and forward by the authors (which I appreciated too),(Seems like Mark described the battle in detail on the air, but I don't think that it's the one from the book), but it was very well done.

First, let me qualify this by stating that I am a huge fan of Mark Levin, his show, and KSFO radio. Just before Memorial Day I was listening to his show and he mentioned his dad's book. I was thinking I should buy the book for my 17 year old son, who somehow considers himself a socialist. Let him see what many thousands of others sacrificed for this country was my main reasoning. Shortly after the book arrived I decided to read it too. With all due respect to Mark Levin, who I think is one of the more brilliant conservative minds, I thought the book too juvenile for adults. Very large type words of the short Gettysburg address and some Matthew Brady photographs were pretty much it. For whatever reason, I thought the book would be a short study on the Battle of Gettysburg - what led up to it, the thoughts Lincoln may have had at the time, and the thoughts Lincoln had while writing and delivering his famous speech. What did others say or think afterwards? What was the Southern response to the speech? None of that was in this book. It was just a bit of Mr Levin's background and the large-type speech with a few Brady photographs - the end. I think I finished it in 5 minutes, and I'm a very slow reader. If I had to do it again, I think I would probably not buy this book and I give only an average rating.

I suspect that this moving testimonial will be especially important for families with children, or for other people who have no knowledge or understanding of the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln. I enjoyed it immensely myself, and want to show it or give it to others.

It passes my understanding that some people consider this "conservative." That's like calling the Constitution "conservative."

This small book of Gettysburg Address illustrations and history will please anyone who loves their country and appreciates the many sacrifices of generations before us. It is a great book to start a conversation with a son or daughter about civil war history and societal challenges. Thank you to Jack and Mark Levin for making this available to everyone. What modern day patriots these Levin men are!!

President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address helped unify the United States, refocusing its citizens on freedom for every person, charity, and godly compassion. That's why radio talk show host Mark Levin's father, Jack E. Levin, created Abraham Lincoln's Gettusburg Address Illustrated.

This reproduction of the elder Levin's slender book begins with a preface by his famous son, Mark. Here, Mark tells us a bit about his father - a man of modest means who has achieved a great deal in his lifetime. The elder Levin, we learn, had the Civil War come to life for him while watching a parade where a single Civil War veteran in full Union attire appeared. Later, Jack Levin became a working artist. Wanting to bring American history to life for others, he conceived a book that would reprint Lincoln's famous speech along with period photographs, illustrations, and maps.

Jack Levin's succinct, original introduction recounts why Lincoln gave his now famous speech. It also offers details about various versions of the speech and why the author chose the particular version reprinted in the book. (Because it's the only one Lincoln signed.)

Then, in large lettering, the rest of the book reprints the speech, overlaying the text upon actual photographs of Civil War battlefields, paintings of the Founding Fathers, maps, period drawings of battles, and period newspaper clippings.

The original speech, in Lincoln's own writing, is reprinted at the end of the book.

What I Like: Some will complain you can find the Gettysburg Address all over the Internet for free. But there's little doubt that having visual images to go along with text helps readers see the greater meaning of the speech. Perhaps such resources are available online, but I'd always rather have a book to hold and keep.

This volume, with it's mostly large type and full page period illustrations, is a good way to learn about one of the most important speeches ever made in the United States. Some of the illustrations are quite moving - authentic photos of the dead on the battlefield, for example, and men in uniform going about the daily business of the Civil War.

The speech is still relevant today, too, as Lincoln reminds us our country was founded upon God and liberty, and that Americans should strive to protect the union and each other or risk having "this government of the people, by the people, for the people...perish[ing] from the earth."

What I Dislike: True enough, most of the original sources for illustrations are in black and white, but some are in color (a painting of the founders, and a flag background, for example). Although it's nice to have an exact reprint of this 1960s book, some added color would have been an excellent addition.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Kristina Seleshanko
Christian Children's Book Review