In Lincoln's Hand

January 26, 2009
This illustrated volume, companion to the Library of Congress Bicentennial Exhibition, collects Lincolns' letters, speeches, pages from childhood notebooks, ruminations and reactions, including his inaugural addresses, his 1859 autobiographical sketch and his famous reply to a pre-Emancipation Proclamation editorial by New York Times founder Horace Greeley that excoriated Lincoln for not acting sooner to free the slaves: "If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it." Alongside these full-color reproductions and their transcripts, the editors run commentary from "Distinguished Americans"-including E.L. Doctorow, Sandra Day O'Connor, Kathryn Harrison, Walter Mosley, William Safire, Stephen Spielberg, Toni Morrison, Conan O'Brien, John Updike, and four former Presidents-that are generally entertaining but vary in quality of insight (and occasionally in credibility-Bush II's contribution reads like it was cribbed from a textbook). A vibrant collector's item, this book should please any Lincoln aficionado, and makes an absorbing introduction for students and the historically curious.

January 15, 2009
Getting to see the writings of anyone from the paston paper in his or her own handdraws in the viewer and makes a long-ago figure seem close. Here we gaze at manuscripts of Abraham Lincoln, with very helpful transcriptions provided, and so, as the editors say, we're "thrust into a new intimacy with Lincoln's mind." This book stands out among Lincoln birth bicentennial books because of its intent visually to show Lincoln in the act, as it were, of reckoning with the many forces in his life. The 41 manuscripts included (to appear in the Library of Congress's exhibit, "With Malice Toward None," opening on February 12, 2009, with later stops in Sacramento, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Omaha) are each newly approached by a prominent person in today's culture. There's Cynthia Ozick on Lincoln's 1848 ruminations on Niagara Falls; Conan O'Brien checking out Lincoln's humor; both presidents Bush, as well as Carter and Clinton; Liam Neeson, a future President Lincoln (via Spielberg); and Henry Louis Gates. Many of the Lincoln pieces included are well known, but whether they're familiar or not, we rarely get to gaze on them so movingly, ink on paper. Highly recommended for all public, high school, and college libraries.Margaret Heilbrun, "Library Journal"

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2009
Adult/High School-This book has been published in conjunction with the Library of Congress's exhibition marking the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth. The beautifully produced volume culls some 40 documents handwritten by the president together with an equal number of commentaries by present-day Americans of note. These contributors range from past presidents (Carter, Clinton, Bush, and Bush) to authors and scholars (John Updike, John Hope Franklin, Toni Morrison, Sven Birkerts), and to people in the performing arts (Steven Spielberg, Liam Neeson, Ken Burns, Conan O'Brien). They all offer brief, thoughtful reflections on the manuscripts presented. The quality of the reproductions is high, providing readers with an accurate representation of the color and texture of the documents, and the clarity of the handwriting in them. Also, the volume is generously illustrated with well-chosen photographs, drawings, and prints. But by far its greatest triumph lies in the thoughts and words of Lincoln himself and the unique window into the creation of those words the handwritten sheets of paper provide. In these drafts of speeches (including Gettysburg and the first and second inaugurals), letters, notes, poems, and other writings, readers glimpse the mind of the author at work. They see strikeovers, insertions, rewriting in the margins; they even see where Lincoln paused to dip his pen in the ink. Everyone knows about the man's political accomplishments, his statesmanship, and his oratory skills, but teens will learn much more from this volume."Robert Saunderson, formerly at Berkeley Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.