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Lincoln on the verge : thirteen days to Washington / Ted Widmer.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York : Simon & Schuster, 2020Copyright date: ©2020Edition: First Simon & Schuster hardcover editionDescription: xii, 606 pages : illustrations ; 24 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781476739434
  • 1476739439
  • 9781476739441
  • 1476739447
Subject(s): Genre/Form:
Contents:
Cast of characters -- Prologue: The holy town of Troy -- The lightning -- Waiting for Lincoln -- The iron monster -- Farewell -- Porkopolis -- The cheese box -- Heart of darkness -- The forest -- A little path -- The straight line -- The front door -- The garden -- The fountain -- The river of night -- Epilogue: Home -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Index.
Summary: As a divided nation plunges into the deepest crisis in its history, Abraham Lincoln boards a train for Washington and his inauguration--an inauguration Southerners have vowed to prevent by any means necessary. Drawing on new research, this account reveals the President-Elect as a work in progress, showing him on the verge of greatness, foiling an assassination attempt, and forging an unbreakable bond with the American people. On the eve of his 52nd birthday, February 11, 1861, the President-Elect of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, walked onto a train, the first step of his journey to the White House, and his rendezvous with destiny. But as the train began to carry Lincoln toward Washington, it was far from certain what he would find there. Bankrupt and rudderless, the government was on the verge of collapse. To make matters worse, reliable intelligence confirmed a conspiracy to assassinate him as he passed through Baltimore. It is no exaggeration to say that the fate of the Republic hung in the balance. How did Lincoln survive this grueling odyssey, to become the president we know from the history books? Lincoln on the Verge tells the story of a leader discovering his own strength, improvising brilliantly, and seeing his country up close during these pivotal thirteen days. From the moment the Presidential Special left the station, a new Lincoln was on display, speaking constantly, from a moving train, to save the Republic. The journey would draw on all of Lincoln's mental and physical reserves. But the President-Elect discovered an inner strength, which deepened with the exhausting ordeal of meeting millions of Americans. Lincoln on the Verge tells the story of America's greatest president and the obstacles he overcame, well before he could take the oath of office and deliver his inaugural address.
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Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library Biography LINCOLN, A. W641 Available 33111011259856
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

WINNER OF THE LINCOLN FORUM BOOK PRIZE

"A Lincoln classic...superb." ­-- The Washington Post

"A book for our time."--Doris Kearns Goodwin

Lincoln on the Verge tells the dramatic story of America's greatest president discovering his own strength to save the Republic.

As a divided nation plunges into the deepest crisis in its history, Abraham Lincoln boards a train for Washington and his inauguration--an inauguration Southerners have vowed to prevent. Lincoln on the Verge charts these pivotal thirteen days of travel, as Lincoln discovers his power, speaks directly to the public, and sees his country up close. Drawing on new research, this riveting account reveals the president-elect as a work in progress, showing him on the verge of greatness, as he foils an assassination attempt, forges an unbreakable bond with the American people, and overcomes formidable obstacles in order to take his oath of office.

As a divided nation plunges into the deepest crisis in its history, Abraham Lincoln boards a train for Washington and his inauguration--an inauguration Southerners have vowed to prevent by any means necessary. Drawing on new research, this account reveals the President-Elect as a work in progress, showing him on the verge of greatness, foiling an assassination attempt, and forging an unbreakable bond with the American people. On the eve of his 52nd birthday, February 11, 1861, the President-Elect of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, walked onto a train, the first step of his journey to the White House, and his rendezvous with destiny. But as the train began to carry Lincoln toward Washington, it was far from certain what he would find there. Bankrupt and rudderless, the government was on the verge of collapse. To make matters worse, reliable intelligence confirmed a conspiracy to assassinate him as he passed through Baltimore. It is no exaggeration to say that the fate of the Republic hung in the balance. How did Lincoln survive this grueling odyssey, to become the president we know from the history books? Lincoln on the Verge tells the story of a leader discovering his own strength, improvising brilliantly, and seeing his country up close during these pivotal thirteen days. From the moment the Presidential Special left the station, a new Lincoln was on display, speaking constantly, from a moving train, to save the Republic. The journey would draw on all of Lincoln's mental and physical reserves. But the President-Elect discovered an inner strength, which deepened with the exhausting ordeal of meeting millions of Americans. Lincoln on the Verge tells the story of America's greatest president and the obstacles he overcame, well before he could take the oath of office and deliver his inaugural address.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 475-583) and index.

Cast of characters -- Prologue: The holy town of Troy -- The lightning -- Waiting for Lincoln -- The iron monster -- Farewell -- Porkopolis -- The cheese box -- Heart of darkness -- The forest -- A little path -- The straight line -- The front door -- The garden -- The fountain -- The river of night -- Epilogue: Home -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Index.

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