Description
Book SynopsisFinalist for the 2022 Lincoln Prize An award-winning scholar uncovers the guiding principles of Lincoln's antislavery strategies.
Trade Review"With this superb book, Oakes opens the way for a thorough retelling of the nation’s history from the American Revolution to the Civil War." -- Sean Wilentz, author of No Property in Man
"Eleanor Roosevelt used to say, ‘If you must compromise, compromise up.’ The champion compromiser up was Lincoln, as Oakes proves, avoiding the simple views of him as just opportunist or just emancipator. He knew where he was going, even when he had to obscure the goal." -- Garry Wills, author of Lincoln at Gettysburg
"A diamond of historical scholarship, with deep research and understanding shining brilliantly in every facet." -- Sidney Blumenthal, author of The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln
"With crisp and lucid prose, Oakes provides a map that guides the reader through the zigs and zags of the path to freedom." -- James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom
"Brilliant…A landmark contribution." -- David S. Reynolds, author of Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times
"On Lincoln, on the Civil War, on slavery’s downfall, on constitutional change—this is an indispensable book." -- Amy Dru Stanley, author of From Bondage to Contract
"No other scholar has shed more light on Lincoln’s way of dealing with slavery." -- Michael Burlingame, author of Abraham Lincoln: A Life
"Cogently argued, by one of our foremost historians of emancipation." -- Manisha Sinha, author of The Slave’s Cause
"I read this remarkable book with pleasure and admiration. Oakes writes like a dream." -- Don Herzog, author of Sovereignty, RIP
