What do you think?
Rate this book
Letters
This rare compilation of four very personal letters penned by Abraham Lincoln provides powerful insight into the man himself. Vook explores the letters in seven compelling and insightful videos that illuminate the meaning behind Lincoln's carefully selected words.
Lincoln's letter to his illiterate father in which he agrees to send him money is accompanied by a frank letter of admonition to his ne'er do well brother for his inability to manage money.
A letter to General Ulysses S. Grant is infused with relief and gratitude for his competency in commanding Union troops in the Civil War, which was a source of constant frustration for Lincoln throughout his Presidency.
Lincoln's scrawled pardon of a southern sympathizer, sparing him execution provides an insightful look at one of the tasks Lincoln loathed most during the turbulent years of the Civil War.
First published by the Bibliophile Society from a private collection of original letters, Lincoln Letters reminds us of the power of the written word and of the pen of Abraham Lincoln.Explore Lincoln's letters through these incredible vook videos and images of the original handwritten letters.
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
24 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
Abraham Lincoln
2,378 books1,973 followersAbraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States from 1861, led during the Civil War, and emancipated slaves in the south in 1863; shortly after the end, John Wilkes Booth assassinated him.
Abraham Lincoln, an American lawyer, politician, and man, served until 1865. Lincoln defended the American constitutional nation, defeated the insurgent Confederacy, abolished, expanded the power of the Federal government, and modernized the economy.
A mother bore him into poverty in a log cabin in Kentucky, and parents reared on the frontier, primarily in Indiana. He educated as a lawyer in Whig party, joined legislature, and represented Illinois. In 1849, he returned to his successful law practice in Springfield, Illinois.
The Kansas–Nebraska act in 1854 opened the territories, angered him, and caused him to re-enter politics. He quickly joined the new Republican Party. He reached a national audience in the campaign debates against Stephen Arnold Douglas for Senate in 1858. Lincoln ran in 1860 and swept the north to gain victory. Other elements viewed his election as a threat and from the nation began seceding. During this time, the newly formed Confederate of America began seizing Federal military bases. A little over one month after Lincoln assumed, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Following the bombardment, Lincoln mobilized forces to suppress the rebellion and restored.
Lincoln, a moderate, navigated a contentious array of factions with friends and opponents from the Democratic Party and Republican Party. His allies, the Democrats, and the radical Republicans, demanded harsh treatment of the Confederates. He exploited mutual enmity of the factions, carefully distributing political patronage, and appealed to the American people. Democrats, called "Copperheads," despised Lincoln, and some irreconcilable pro-Confederate elements went so far as to plot. People came to see his greatest address at Gettysburg as a most influential statement of American national purpose. Lincoln closely supervised the strategy and tactics in the effort, including the selection of generals, and implemented a naval blockade of the trade. He suspended habeas corpus in Maryland and elsewhere, and averted British intervention by defusing the Trent Affair. He issued the proclamation, which declared free those "in rebellion." It also directed the Navy to "recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons" and to receive them "into the armed service." Lincoln pressured border to outlaw, and he promoted the thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished, except as punishment for a crime.
Lincoln managed his own successful re-election campaign. He sought to heal the torn nation through reconciliation. On April 14, 1865, just five days after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, he attended a play at theater of Ford in Washington, District of Columbia, with Mary Todd Lincoln, his wife, when Confederate sympathizer fatally shot him. People remember Lincoln as a martyr and a national hero for his time and for his efforts to preserve and abolish. Popular and scholarly polls often rank Lincoln as the greatest president in American history.
Abraham Lincoln, an American lawyer, politician, and man, served until 1865. Lincoln defended the American constitutional nation, defeated the insurgent Confederacy, abolished, expanded the power of the Federal government, and modernized the economy.
A mother bore him into poverty in a log cabin in Kentucky, and parents reared on the frontier, primarily in Indiana. He educated as a lawyer in Whig party, joined legislature, and represented Illinois. In 1849, he returned to his successful law practice in Springfield, Illinois.
The Kansas–Nebraska act in 1854 opened the territories, angered him, and caused him to re-enter politics. He quickly joined the new Republican Party. He reached a national audience in the campaign debates against Stephen Arnold Douglas for Senate in 1858. Lincoln ran in 1860 and swept the north to gain victory. Other elements viewed his election as a threat and from the nation began seceding. During this time, the newly formed Confederate of America began seizing Federal military bases. A little over one month after Lincoln assumed, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Following the bombardment, Lincoln mobilized forces to suppress the rebellion and restored.
Lincoln, a moderate, navigated a contentious array of factions with friends and opponents from the Democratic Party and Republican Party. His allies, the Democrats, and the radical Republicans, demanded harsh treatment of the Confederates. He exploited mutual enmity of the factions, carefully distributing political patronage, and appealed to the American people. Democrats, called "Copperheads," despised Lincoln, and some irreconcilable pro-Confederate elements went so far as to plot. People came to see his greatest address at Gettysburg as a most influential statement of American national purpose. Lincoln closely supervised the strategy and tactics in the effort, including the selection of generals, and implemented a naval blockade of the trade. He suspended habeas corpus in Maryland and elsewhere, and averted British intervention by defusing the Trent Affair. He issued the proclamation, which declared free those "in rebellion." It also directed the Navy to "recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons" and to receive them "into the armed service." Lincoln pressured border to outlaw, and he promoted the thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished, except as punishment for a crime.
Lincoln managed his own successful re-election campaign. He sought to heal the torn nation through reconciliation. On April 14, 1865, just five days after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, he attended a play at theater of Ford in Washington, District of Columbia, with Mary Todd Lincoln, his wife, when Confederate sympathizer fatally shot him. People remember Lincoln as a martyr and a national hero for his time and for his efforts to preserve and abolish. Popular and scholarly polls often rank Lincoln as the greatest president in American history.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 28, 2017
I am happy about the easy access I have to these letters written by a President to his family members. It is admirable to notice the respectable manner of his words while addressing both letters to his father and brother. He reprimands his brother for being idle, not lazy and very sensitively makes the reader realise the art of letter writing, no contempt or brash beating through words. If only we emulate these ideals for today's disintegrating family relations! It's a short read but worth a glimpse into the life of an extraordinary man as he was to his family.
December 28, 2015
A smart read.
The book is very short, but it shows his character so well. I love the diplomacy. It is worth a quick read!
The book is very short, but it shows his character so well. I love the diplomacy. It is worth a quick read!
March 10, 2019
Quick little read at less than 3 hours of audio time. Great if you'd like to dip out of our current divisive era of politics and peek at a previous era and leadership.
3.5 - I would have preferred to sit with these words visually rather than listen. I would have also appreciated some outside context about what was happening at the time the letter was written, but that's a minor quibble.
The collection is really incredible, for both the peek at a different era of language and correspondence, as well as the sheer historical factor. The early letters - of his speculation about career and finances are just so interesting to read with the information we have now about what happened to his career and life.
SPOILER?
By far, the most heartstopping letter is the one he wrote to a mother who lost FIVE sons in the war. What a moment.
3.5 - I would have preferred to sit with these words visually rather than listen. I would have also appreciated some outside context about what was happening at the time the letter was written, but that's a minor quibble.
The collection is really incredible, for both the peek at a different era of language and correspondence, as well as the sheer historical factor. The early letters - of his speculation about career and finances are just so interesting to read with the information we have now about what happened to his career and life.
SPOILER?
By far, the most heartstopping letter is the one he wrote to a mother who lost FIVE sons in the war. What a moment.
August 24, 2023
It’s basically just letters that he’s written to different people and different years of his life. It was actually really cool because it showed his type of personality and what type of man he was and how his life changed throughout the years it was informative. It was a good short read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2017
Abraham Lincoln really did have a level head and a good mindset.
June 21, 2018
Never thought I'd read this ......
I usually don't read things like this but these letters were I think a window into a man I admittedly don't know much about.
I usually don't read things like this but these letters were I think a window into a man I admittedly don't know much about.
July 4, 2020
Great and beautiful letters. No five stars because the book is ridiculously short
February 2, 2013
Three letters by Abraham Lincoln. Too few letters were included. Yet it gives you an insight of the type of person he is.
Some of my favourite lines:-
"You do not very much dislike to work, and still you do not work much, merely because it does not seem to you that you could get much for it. This habit of uselessly wasting time, is the whole difficulty; and it is vastly important to you, and still more so to your children, that you should break this habit. It is more important to them, because they have longer to live, and can keep out of an idle habit before they are in it easier than they can get out after they are in."
"You say you would almost give your place in Heaven for $70 or $80. Then you value your place in Heaven very cheaply, for I am sure you can with the offer I make you get the seventy or eighty dollars for four or five months' work."
Some of my favourite lines:-
"You do not very much dislike to work, and still you do not work much, merely because it does not seem to you that you could get much for it. This habit of uselessly wasting time, is the whole difficulty; and it is vastly important to you, and still more so to your children, that you should break this habit. It is more important to them, because they have longer to live, and can keep out of an idle habit before they are in it easier than they can get out after they are in."
"You say you would almost give your place in Heaven for $70 or $80. Then you value your place in Heaven very cheaply, for I am sure you can with the offer I make you get the seventy or eighty dollars for four or five months' work."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2012
I especially enjoyed the second letter to his brother. Lincoln was not only a man of unquestionable integrity and superb leadership, but from his letter to his brother, we learn he also maintained healthy boundaries in his life. A quick read as there are only 3 letters. I would love to read more. Still, I'm thankful for the glimpse these provide into Lincoln's character and heart for his family and country.
February 26, 2012
The only reason I give this one 2 stars is that there were only 3 letters included. I was expecting a collection of letters.. not miniscule bunch of measly missives. But, on the other hand, the letters themselves were wonderful and provided an interesting insight into Lincoln as a man.
October 17, 2011
A great man with unbreakable principles, indeed.
July 1, 2013
A man of great wisdom and a caring heart for others as read through his letters.
June 26, 2016
Lincoln's letters
I enjoyed reading a sample of the letters. I would recommend the book to anyone who knows by working hard, a person can achieve self-satisfaction.
I enjoyed reading a sample of the letters. I would recommend the book to anyone who knows by working hard, a person can achieve self-satisfaction.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews