Wrestling with his angel : the political life of Abraham Lincoln / Sidney Blumenthal.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blumenthal, Sidney, 1948- author.

Series:

Blumenthal, Sidney, 1948- Political life of Abraham Lincoln ; v. 2.

Political life of Abraham Lincoln ; volume II

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--United States--Biography.

Presidents.

Lawyers.

United States.

Illinois--Springfield.

Lawyers--Illinois--Springfield--Biography.

Political and social views.

Politics and government.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.

Lincoln, Abraham.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Political and social views.

Illinois--Politics and government--To 1865.

Illinois.

United States--Politics and government--1815-1861.

Legislators--Illinois--Biography.

Legislators.

Genre:

Biographies.

Nonfiction.

Physical Description:

xx, 581 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.

Edition:

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2017.

Summary:

"Volume II of Sidney Blumenthal's acclaimed, landmark biography, The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln, reveals the future president's genius during the most decisive period of his political life when he seizes the moment, finds his voice, and helps create a new political party. In 1849, Abraham Lincoln seems condemned to political isolation and defeat. His Whig Party is broken in the 1852 election, and disintegrates. His perennial rival, Stephen Douglas, forges an alliance with the Southern senators and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Violent struggle breaks out on the plains of Kansas, a prelude to the Civil War. Lincoln rises to the occasion. Only he can take on Douglas in Illinois, and he finally delivers the dramatic speech that leaves observers stunned. In 1855, he makes a race for the Senate, which he loses when he throws his support to a rival to prevent the election of a proslavery candidate. Now, in Wrestling With His Angel, Sidney Blumenthal explains how Lincoln and his friends operate behind the scenes to destroy the anti-immigrant party in Illinois to clear the way for a new Republican Party. Lincoln takes command and writes its first platform and vaults onto the national stage as the leader of a party that will launch him to the presidency."--Jacket.

Contents:

Prologue: Wrestling with his angel

White negros

The civil war of Old Rough and Ready

The art of the deal

The consequences of the peace

What is to be done?

A hero's welcome

The making of the dark horse

The victory march of Old Fuss and Feathers

The death of Henry Clay

The Waterloo of the Whigs

The acting president of the United States

I, Thomas Hart Benton

The triumph of the F Street mess

A self-evident lie

Citizen Know Nothing

The conquest of Kansas

Imperialism, the highest stage of slavery

Armed liberty

The failure of free society

The blood of the revolution

Senator Lincoln

The Republican

Destiny and power.

Notes:

"1849-1856."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 535-548) and index.

ISBN:

9781501153785

1501153781

OCLC:

985600885