LINCOLN: A Contemporary Portrait

A group of Lincoln scholars and enthusiasts conceived this idea of attempting to approach Lincoln from today's viewpoint, and to this end a dozen writers contributed especially written pieces to form a unified and rounded whole. Lincoln again emerges in the immensity of his stature -- the book, Stone says, might have been called: ""United He Stands"". Lincoln is viewed in relation to some closely associated with him and on occasion a different sense of relationship emerges. Thaddeus Stevens is shown as anything but a vicious opponent; Stanton, despite the down-grading of his importance in some hands, appears in official harmony and reciprocal amity; his impatience provided foil and balance for Lincoln's forebearance. Halleck's value is enhanced in his role as adviser. The Lincoln-Douglas debates show rivals testing each other's powers- and particularly interesting is the summary of contemporary comment on them. Lincoln in relation to the Sioux outbreak is of more historical and biographical interest. And Lincoln's role in the Hampton Roads Peace Conference, and in relation to Taney and the suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus present two relatively unhackneyed views. The final chapters- on Lincoln's Humor and Lincoln and the Art of the Word- are more specifically directed to the man himself, while the chapter on Books and Libraries in Lincoln's Time is enlightening in indicating more advance in these areas than we are prone to surmise. The most surprising aspect however is the richness brought to the Lincoln picture by people not generally known (by the public) as authorities in the field:- Fawn Brodie, Harold Hyman, William Marsh, Sherrill Halbert, David Miller, Justin Turner, Andrew Rolle. Other names are familiar- but not in relation to the Lincoln legend,- Jay Monaghan, Mort Lewis, Marianne Moore. The editors' names, of course, speak for themselves.