Lincoln: The Presidential Archives [Hardcover]

Chuck Wills (Author), Becker and Mayer! Ltd. (Creator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 17, 2007

There is no better treatment for the life of the great President Abraham Lincoln than this interactive, "museum-in-a-book," which includes accessible text, photography, and removable documents that, combined, provide an educational and entertaining reading experience for the whole family. This full biography covers Lincoln's childhood, his early political career, the Civil War, and his traumatic assassination. AUTHOR BIO: A writer, editor, and consultant specializing in American History, Chuck Will's most recent books include America's Presidents, Destination America, and Boom Times, Hard Times. He has written or contributed to numerous other works on American history, including Daily Life in Colonial America and a series of historical albums on the American states. In addition to his historical work, Wills has a sideline in popular culture, technology, and music, including co-authoring Grateful Dead: The Illustrated Trip. He lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. A highly readable general biography of the American icon, complete with realistic replicas of notes, sketches and letters from the Presidential collection, this book will delight Lincoln enthusiasts, as well as fans of general American history. Wills' text is a well-written account of Lincoln's life, with nods to all of the recent scholarship-from Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2005 Team of Rivals to recent speculation over Lincoln's sexual orientation-without sinking into too much analysis or debate. Photos, portraits and engravings abound (though, chronologically, they're occasionally at odds with the text), and a dozen vellum envelopes bound into the book hold historic reproductions, including a leaf from Lincoln's school notebook, an 1860 presidential campaign banner and his handwritten copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. Though a bit gimmicky, these replicas do provide unique insight into the man's elusive life; holding a letter from an impatient Mary Todd that begins, "I have waited in vain to hear from you... but will be charitable enough to impute your silence to the right cause," one can almost hear the President's exasperated sigh as he turns to his writing desk.
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Review

If you wish to hold reproductions of Lincoln's elementary mathematics notebook, the Lincoln-Todd marriage license, Lincoln's letter to Sheilds outlining the terms of their forthcoming duel, Lincoln's patent application, the first piece of mail delivered by the Pony Express from St. Joseph, Missouri to Julesburg, Rocky Mountains, Mary Todd Lincoln's letter from NYC to her husband in which she asks for more cash, the telegram from Tammany Hall to Lincoln informing him of the Draft Riots and many more documents, then this splendid book is for you. --Civil War Librarian

There is no better treatment for the life of the great President Abraham Lincoln than this interactive, "museum-in-a-book," which includes accessible text, photography, and removable documents that, combined, provide an educational and entertaining reading experience for the whole family. This full biography covers Lincoln's childhood, his early political career, the Civil War, and his traumatic assassination. --Murdoc Online

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: DK Publishing (September 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756632226
• ISBN-13: 978-0756632229
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,160,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lincoln's Archives Book, A Familar Story Well Told And Illustrated, With Eight Surprise Envelopes, September 21, 2007

By 

Rea Andrew Redd "http://civilwarlibrarian.blo... (Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lincoln: The Presidential Archives (Hardcover)

Lincoln: The Presidential Archives, Chuck Wills, Dorling Kindersley Publications, 160 pp, b/w photographs, watercolor maps, bibliography, ephemera, September 2007.

If you wish to hold reproductions of Lincoln's elementary mathematics notebook, the Lincoln-Todd marriage license, Lincoln's letter to Sheilds outlining the terms of their forthcoming duel, Lincoln's patent application, the first piece of mail delivered by the Pony Express from St. Joseph, Missouri to Julesburg, Rocky Mountains, Mary Todd Lincoln's letter from NYC to her husband in which she asks for more cash, the telegram from Tammany Hall to Lincoln informing him of the Draft Riots and many more documents, then this splendid book is for you.

Not just a collection of paper documents, but also a fine biography with period photographs, maps, and illustrations on every other page, Lincoln: The Presidential Archives, is a wonderful book. In particular, rare photographs of Denton Offut's store where Lincoln clerked, the Lincoln and Berry store, and the Edwards' house in which the Abraham and Mary were wed are published.

The book's heavy and glossy paper and a strong binding allows the book to stay open at every page. Lincoln: The Presidential Archives is both an attractive coffee table book and a 'hands-on' biography. The narrative contents are well organized and the eight sturdy, opaque, full-page envelopes that hold the reproductions have a paper flap that allows for easy removal and return of the reproduction documents.

Lincoln: The Presidential Archives is worth every penny and will be a welcomed gift for any Lincoln enthusiast, Civil War buff, American history reader or social science teacher.

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Edition!, January 9, 2010

By 

AR Country - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lincoln: The Presidential Archives (Hardcover)

This is the most complete, accurate, and hands-on accounting of Lincoln's presidency! Highly recommend it for personal, library, historical use!

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous book preserving the memory of a remarkable man, March 25, 2009

By 

nononsense1 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lincoln: The Presidential Archives (Hardcover)

I have always had great admiration for Abraham Lincoln, but have not before read any of the many biographies written about him because of the sheer numbers to choose from and because it seems that there are always those who wish to re-write history. My daughter solved the dilemma for me by giving this book to me for my birthday. Once I began reading, I was spellbound and within a few days had completed the volume. This book is very well written, detailing all of the important events dealing with Lincoln's life and remarkable public career. It is a sympathetic view of Lincoln's life, which is what I was searching for all along, and is honest enough to place Lincoln's views, motivations and actions within their true historic context. I enjoyed looking at copies of the original documents accompanying the volume and was most impressed with the unique collection of the many photographs taken of Lincoln during his lifetime. It was especially exciting to see photos preserving the moments surrounding the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second inaugural speech. I would highly recommend this book to all who, like me, were unsure where to begin. It is a marvelous book detailing the life of a remarkable man.