Ask the Author: John Bicknell
Answered Questions (7)
John Bicknell
Lincoln’s Pathfinder is about the election of 1856 — how John C. Fremont, the Psthfinder of the West - showed the way to eventual victory for Lincoln in 1860. The Pathfinder and the President tells the story of the difficult relationship between the two men (and between Lincoln and Jessie Benton Fremont) during the Civil War.
John Bicknell
I’m not aware of any book-length treatment of the topic, but there is a section on Lincoln in this: What If…: Book of Alternative History https://a.co/d/e6vX9fI. There is a children’s book: Saving the president: What if Lincoln had lived (A What if mystery) https://a.co/d/66iauBv. And at least one novel, titled The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln.
John Bicknell
James McPherson, who wrote "Battle Cry of Freedom" and other great books about the Civil War era, wrote "The Abolitionist Legacy:
From Reconstruction to the NAACP," which tells the story of what several anti-slavery activists did following emancipation. Eric Foner's classic "Reconstruction" touches on the subject as well, although it's a small part of his tale. Probably my favorite book on the subject is "All on Fire," a biography of William Lloyd Garrison, which takes him through the antebellum period, the war and Reconstruction. He died in 1879.
From Reconstruction to the NAACP," which tells the story of what several anti-slavery activists did following emancipation. Eric Foner's classic "Reconstruction" touches on the subject as well, although it's a small part of his tale. Probably my favorite book on the subject is "All on Fire," a biography of William Lloyd Garrison, which takes him through the antebellum period, the war and Reconstruction. He died in 1879.
John Bicknell
Peter Stark's "Astoria" is excellent. There have been several histories of the fur trade in the past few years -- "Astoria" was by far the most readable. I have consulted Irving's work for research, but have never read it cover to cover.
John Bicknell
I wanted to read a book about the 1844 election and couldn't find one. So I decided to write one.
John Bicknell
I'm working on promoting my new book, "America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation," which comes out Nov. 1. And I've begun researching my next book, that will cover another 19th century presidential election.
John Bicknell
Bob,
I rarely read fiction these days, and back when I did, was more inclined toward John Updike and Philip Roth than Vidal. My feeling was always, if I want to read about history, I'll read history, rather than historical fiction. Sometimes I wonder if I'm missing something, though. Good historical fiction -- "The Killer Angels" comes to mind -- can add a valuable dimension to the study of history. Lots of people swear by Vidal on that count.
JB
I rarely read fiction these days, and back when I did, was more inclined toward John Updike and Philip Roth than Vidal. My feeling was always, if I want to read about history, I'll read history, rather than historical fiction. Sometimes I wonder if I'm missing something, though. Good historical fiction -- "The Killer Angels" comes to mind -- can add a valuable dimension to the study of history. Lots of people swear by Vidal on that count.
JB
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