Abraham and Mary Lincoln

"Kenneth Winkle is one of the top Lincoln scholars in the country and this exploration of the Lincoln marriage is masterful--carefully researched and written, judicious in its analysis and thoughtful about providing context for a complicated and fascinating partnership."--Matthew Pinsker, Pohanka Chair for Civil War History, Dickinson College "Abraham Lincoln was a pivotal figure in 19th Century American history. Adding to the growing library of Lincoln Studies are four volumes newly published by the Southern Illinois University Press..."Abraham and Mary Lincoln" (9780809330492, $19.95, 160 pages) by Kenneth J. Winkle descriptively assesses the complex and sometimes controversial marriage of America's 'First Family' beginning with their contrasting childhoods, courtship, the 'lawyer Lincoln' years, and their White House tenure which ended tragically with the assassination of Lincoln at the close of the Civil War. Each of these informed and informative titles is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Lincoln Studies and 19th Century American History collections." --;br>--James A. Cox"The Midwest Book Review" (12/01/2011) Both of these titles are part of a the new Concise Lincoln Library series. They are similar in format, short, moderately priced and able to fit in a jacket pocket or small purse for easy travel reading. They are well edited, have none of the usual typos, and waste no space with "filler" dialogue. However, each covers a separate agenda. The first title contains a condensed version, in my opinion, of Michael Burlingame's previous works. The book is divided into 11 chapters, each dealing with various phases of Lincoln's handling of the Civil War. Although the liner notes claim the book offers new perspectives on Lincoln's personality, I failed to find them. What I did find is an interesting premise that the Union waged war from an "underdog" position. Burlingame writes from that perspective and shows how Lincoln's "steady hand" turned the tide to victory. I found this very interesting "food for thought" and further study. I think you will as well, and this book would be a worthy addition to your library. The second title is a study of the Lincoln marriage, with background information on the Lincolns' early lives. There is little new here for the advanced student, but it is interesting reading nonetheless. As the book progresses, author Kenneth Winkle uses a novel device: he compares the Lincolns to the average middle-class couples of the day. I found this most interesting. Quite differently, he compares Mary's grief to that of Queen Victoria. Abraham and Mary's whole life together is covered in less than 150 pages. Winkle explains the strange dichotomy of their relationship: Mary was a strong asset to Lincoln's career but at the same time proved detrimental. I found this book lacking in depth, but one cannot have it all in so short a volume. Both of these books would be valuable additions to a Lincoln Library and both provide ample directions for further learning and research. --Joseph A. Truglio"Civil War News" (01/01/2012) "Knowing Abraham Lincoln is impossible and studying him is like trying to sip from the 'Fountain of Liberty' or make tea from the Constitution--he is not for the faint of heart. But reading SIU Press's Concise Lincoln Library offers something for every thirst. Deep drinkers and first-time students of the Civil War and Lincoln studies will come back for more, and this series will more than fill the glass." --William Furry, executive director, Illinois State Historical Society "Evenhanded and well researched, Kenneth Winkle's Abraham and Mary Lincoln is an outstanding contribution to our understanding of the Lincolns-- both as individuals and as partners. Winkle knows the historical context of their lives and presents their relationship in lively readable prose. This book is a striking success." --Jean H. Baker, author of Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography "Kenneth Winkle's treatment of Lincoln's courtship and marriage provides valuable perspective on the distinctive social dynamics of Lincoln's America." --Douglas L. Wilson, author of Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words "The final words of this superb and balanced study neatly sum up Kenneth Winkle's own achievement in writing it: he has shed new and original light on 'a fascinating and enigmatic marriage.' Winkle chooses no favorites, takes no sides, and eschews psychobabble. The result is an adept look at one of the most closely observed marriages in American history." --Harold Holzer, chairman, Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation "Kenneth Winkle is one of the top Lincoln scholars in the country and this exploration of the Lincoln marriage is masterful--carefully researched and written, judicious in its analysis and thoughtful about providing context for a complicated and fascinating partnership."--Matthew Pinsker, Pohanka Chair for Civil War History, Dickinson College 120 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE "Abraham Lincoln was a pivotal figure in 19th Century American history. Adding to the growing library of Lincoln Studies are four volumes newly published by the Southern Illinois University Press... 120 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE "Abraham and Mary Lincoln" (9780809330492, $19.95, 160 pages) by Kenneth J. Winkle descriptively assesses the complex and sometimes controversial marriage of America's 'First Family' beginning with their contrasting childhoods, courtship, the 'lawyer Lincoln' years, and their White House tenure which ended tragically with the assassination of Lincoln at the close of the Civil War. Each of these informed and informative titles is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Lincoln Studies and 19th Century American History collections." --;br>--James A. Cox"The Midwest Book Review" (12/01/2011) "Evenhanded and well researched, Kenneth Winkle's "Abraham and Mary Lincoln" is an outstanding contribution to our understanding of the Lincolns-- both as individuals and as partners. Winkle knows the historical context of their lives and presents their relationship in lively readable prose. This book is a striking success." --Jean H. Baker, author of "Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography ""Kenneth Winkle's treatment of Lincoln's courtship and marriage provides valuable perspective on the distinctive social dynamics of Lincoln's America." --Douglas L. Wilson, author of "Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words" "The final words of this superb and balanced study neatly sum up Kenneth Winkle's own achievement in writing it: he has shed new and original light on 'a fascinating and enigmatic marriage.' Winkle chooses no favorites, takes no sides, and eschews psychobabble. The result is an adept look at one of the most closely observed marriages in American history." Read more...