Freedom: A Novel of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War

by William Safire

From the war-room of the White House to Washington's drawing rooms, from the bloody battlefields of Shiloh and Antietam to the battleships Monitor and Merrimack, the drama, the passions and the characters of the Civil War leap to life in a monumental bestseller from one of today's Washington insiders, William Safire. HC: Doubleday.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Civil War, Politics, War, American History, American Civil War

1437 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

William Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter.

He was perhaps best known as a long-time syndicated political columnist for the New York Times and a regular contributor to "On Language" in the New York Times Magazine, a column on popular etymology, new or unusual usages, and other language-related topics.

Reviews

[Armen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read over 100 books about the Civil War and its characters - this is one of the best. I am not a big fan of William Safire - in fact, I liked nothing else he ever wrote - and as for his politics, well, let's just say that we rarely saw eye to eye. But this book is a miracle - a stirring but fully documented account of the first two tears of the war.

This is one of the best historical novels ever written - and I have read hundreds of them, from Gore Vidal to Mary Renault. A fascinating feature of this historical novel is the 'back history.' Safire, in the back of the book, after each chapter, tells you what he made up and what is based on documents or other hard evidence.

If you like books about the CW, or if you like historical novels, this is the book for you.

[Leonard Pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book, it’s a commitment. Long and demanding and often difficult. And I loved it.

[Christopher Saunders · Rating 2 out of 5]

William Safire's Freedom is the sort of historical fiction that I generally can't stand: a doorstop (900-plus pages of narrative, plus another 200 for end notes, etc.) account of the Civil War's first two years that's almost formless in its regurgitation of historical facts and minutia. To his credit, Safire provides engaging character sketches of the era's more colorful figures, including Anna Ella Carroll, the Maryland pamphleteer and political activist who serves as the novel's de facto protagonist; John Breckinridge, the Kentucky politician who opposes secession and slavery but feels bound by conscience to join the Confederate Army; Rose Greenhow, the Confederate spy who's bizarrely portrayed as a 19th Century dominatrix; George McClellan, the bumbling, egocentric Union general whom Safire grants a remarkable degree of sympathy; a seemingly endless procession of political leaders, from Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens to Jefferson Davis and Judah Benjamin to Millard Fillmore to Honest Abe Lincoln himself. What's missing here is any sort of drama, any shape or form to events beyond the inexorable din of chronology, any reason why this cavalcade of names, dates and figures is posing as a novel rather than a straight history - or worse, a narrative encyclopedia. Nor are Safire's dramatic inventions often interesting or appropriate; the most compelling denunciation of the war's "states rights" rationale comes from Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston, from whom such sentiments feel singularly inappropriate. Compared to Gore Vidal's Lincoln, it's a giant, barren brick of nothing; compared even with the likes of James Michener, who could at least conjure character, color and narrative flare in his doorstop historical dramas, it's monumentally dull.

[Alton Motobu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars. This 1248-page epic is about the early years of the Civil War from late May, 1861 to New Year's Day, 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. Focus is on President Lincoln and his struggles with rivals in his Cabinet and in the US Senate; with the generals in the Army who are afraid of battle, overly cautious, or unwilling to follow presidential directives; and various personalities in and around Washington DC who are spies, backstabbers, or overly eager to curry favors with Lincoln. Key supporting figures are Lincoln's personal secretary John Hay, influential socialite-journalist Anna Ella Carroll, who has many male friends in high places, and Secretary of State William Seward who seems to be the only one Lincoln truly trusts. Lincoln likes to portray himself as a country hick but in reality he is a shrewd politician who knows how to manipulate and control both friends and enemies.

In addition to the main narrative there is a 9-page prologue and a 169-page "underbook" which contains the sources and commentary about Safire's fictionalized passages.

The main reason I could not give this 5 stars was that it covered only 19 months of the Civil War; missing were such significant events as Gettysburg, the naming of U.S. Grant as General-in-Chief, the passage of the 13th Amendment, and the assassination. Surely Safire could have covered the entire Lincoln presidency in 1248 pages; it was disappointing to have it end on New Year's 1963 with over two years left to go in the war. Gore Vidal's LINCOLN was half the length of this book but covered the entire war and the assassination (although it was not nearly as rich and detailed as FREEDOM). All in all this is a great reading experience for history buffs, especially fans of Lincoln.

[Sallie Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing this review in 2019, cataloguing all my reads that I kept in a journal before I was acquainted with Goodreads, I remember thinking this was the best book I had ever read about the Civil War. Just saying!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago, when it first came out. I found it a compelling tale of the time and actions leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation: a period about which I knew little. What was particularly fascinating was Safire's 'double-book': for each chapter of fiction, he wrote a corresponding chapter giving the historical grounding upon which he wrote. So the reader meets characters (like Matthew Brady and Mary Surratt) in a fictional construct, then find out how Safire created those characters from letters, documents, etc.

I kick myself for loaning it to a friend who never returned it. Now I live in another country and lost touch with her years ago. Damn!

[Graceann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is enormous, and so detailed as to be over 1000 pages and only cover the Civil War from its start through the Battle of Antietam. I needed two bookmarks; one for the text and the other for the index, which is comprehensive and informative.

[Charlotte Achelois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can think of no better way to deeply familiarize oneself with the first two years of the war with one single volume. Political battles, military battles -- and Safire breathes life into such a vast array of characters.

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned about the Confederate spy ring in Washington D.C. and the trouble Mary Lincoln caused by her spending.

[Zena Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It’s flawed in many ways, but nevertheless it’s immediately one of my all-time favourites and one I know I will read again some time.

When it comes to recommending this book, the most important thing is related to one of its major flaws. Only a reader who has a background familiarity (even if superficial) with the figures — politicians, generals, newspapermen, etc — who played a role in the American Civil War would be able to keep track of everyone. I knew something (sometimes a lot, sometimes a little) about most of the characters, and all of the main characters. (With the major exception of Anna Ella Carroll, who I’m definitely going to learn more about. She’s fascinating.) Frequently, there are pages with 8, 10, or 12 people mentioned, and it would surely be an exercise in frustration trying to keep everyone straight if you didn’t already have some hooks to hang the names on. From the point of view of a Civil War newbie, I suspect Safire does a poor job of helping the reader keep all the characters straight, and he also introduces characters — and they sometimes even have a chapter from their point of view — who really aren’t ‘necessary’ to the overall story.

Speaking of the story… It’s basically a chronology of the political events of the war up to Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation on New Year’s Day, 1863. (I was disappointed when I realized there wasn’t enough of the book left to get us to the end of the war and Lincoln’s assassination.)

Again, for a reader not already into the Civil War, the story is lacking. There isn’t really a main protagonist with a goal, who the reader is rooting for as they overcome adversity. But, personally, I still loved it. I find the chronology of the war — the politics of it — fascinating. And the book does focus on the politics. There are some battles in the narrative, but we read about them mostly through a political lens.

The chronology is enlivened by multiple points of view and there are some romantic elements that Safire mentions at the beginning are fictional. (I haven’t yet read the author’s note — basically another whole book — at the end that goes into detail about what’s truth and what’s fiction. I’m looking forward to reading it.)

The particularly wonderful thing about this book for me was its subtle explorations of the characters’ beliefs and actions. To take one example: McClellan’s actions (or inaction) were seen in one way by Lincoln and others, but we also see them from McClellan’s point of view. Same goes for Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus. Safire doesn’t beat us over the head with what he takes to be the ‘correct’ interpretation, he just shows us how people could reasonably disagree. There is a lot of rumination, reflection, and discussion of various political views in the book. Again, I was into them, but the reader without a prior interest in the war would probably find them tedious.

I also enjoyed the interspersed pages of John Hay’s journal. Safire did a fantastic job of Hay’s character and his journal entries add some nice humorous touches to the novel.

Overall, if you’re not a Civil War enthusiast, give this one a miss — even if you’re into historical fiction. But if you are interested in the Civil War and have some knowledge of it (no need to be an expert; I’m not), then what are you waiting for?! You need to read this book.

[Daniel Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel of the Civil War from effectively Lincoln’s first days in office, with allusions and references to the pre-war years, to the day he officially signs the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

The book is both a history and a novelization, in which Safire weaves all the characters and history around the central argument/theme of: 1) was the emancipation justified legally, historically, politically, and on military grounds? And 2) Could Lincoln’s massive increase of executive power via the War Powers justified on the same grounds?

The actual battles of the civil war play a small role, though they always look. The battles are viewed through the politics happening in DC and Richmond between the two factions, with more focus on the Union and Lincoln. Safire worked in political journalism, so he takes that eye towards fictionalizing the debates surrounding Lincoln on all his decisions, from revoking habeas corpus all the way to the emancipation proclamation.

Safire clearly takes issue with some of Lincoln’s actions, given breath to criticism of Lincoln taking near dictatorial powers. Part of the way he does this is by using the Breckinridge family as a tragic foil to Lincoln’s stance. Safire also casts Lincoln in pure Machiavellian terms, willing to knife anyone that stands in his way politically.

If you enjoy the political intrigue and intricate (especially for a novel) arguments over these issues, it’s a great book. I do, and give it 4 stars. I detract one star because I wasn’t a fan of the diary entry chapters for one of Lincoln’s secretaries. They interrupted the overall flow of the story. There’s an entire section in the back of the book with footnotes and discussions of what happened according to history. Safire takes some liberties, he’s honest about that and points out those sections if you’re so inclined.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it's nearly 1,000 pages, "Freedom" only covers half of the Civil War, up to January 1, 1863 and the moment when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. But that's OK, as we learn a lot up to that point about how Lincoln changed his thinking about the war from a battle for Union to a moral fight against slavery. Is it history, or fiction?

Unlike many historical novels, Safire provides an "underbook" at the end of more than 100 pages in length, covering each chapter to separate fact from fiction, citing sources, and engaging in historical debates. Safire's got some surprises. He's more sympathetic to McClellan than Grant. He admires Lincoln but resists deifying Honest Abe, finding that he did in fact violate Constitutional freedoms and became at least a little bit of the dictator that his enemies claimed.

Mostly, Safire introduces as heroine Anna Ella Carrol. In reality, she was the scion of a powerful Maryland family and sometime government propagandist. In fiction, Safire gives her romantic connections to many men of state, from Milliard Fillmore to John C. Breckinridge and even Salmon P. Chase.

I don't know if "Freedom" was used by Tony Kushner, along with Doris Kearns Goodwin's more recent "Team of Rivals," in writing his screenplay for Spielberg's movie "Lincoln," but similarities abound. Overall, a fascinating mix of war, politics, and romance with lots of real history to think about.

[PyranopterinMo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very complex book. One of the really great books that I've read. While the story is technically historical fiction since he adds various pieces that are missing to historian, this is really a detailed analysis of the grand strategy of the first half of the civil war. It is also an extremely insightful look into the politics and the extremely difficult position of Lincoln during the start of his administration. finally this book also gives a detailed treatment of many key people during the civil war, mainly but not exclusively political figures.

[Geo Forman · Rating 5 out of 5]

At nearly a thousand pages, this one took a while to read. My reading time was lengthened by the breaks caused by investigating topics brought to light and to allow time to digest what I had just read.
In spite of its length, the book ends with the Emancipation Proclamation and does not continue to the end of the war or, at least, to the assination. I wish Safire had written a second companion novel to complete the story. I finished the book wanting more

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent study of the different views of freedom. Does an excellent job of demonstrating both sides of the issues of the civil war and the seeming reasonableness of the arguments. Very useful footnotes about what is real and not.

[Wesley Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply one of the best historical novels that must exist. A storytelling masterpiece. The author brings the characters back to life and puts you right into the conflicting beliefs and goals of a divided nation at a pivotal point in American history.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this years ago when it first came. As soon as I finish reading U. S. Grant's memoirs and Grant by Ron Chernow (which I am reading concurrently) I'm going to have to read this again.

[Tiffany Tinkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good historical fiction novel from the stand point of Lincoln and the other government officials. Long read but was really good and we'll written.

[Venke Anderson]

x

[Bradley Brill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid historical fiction that made me feel that I was there, interacting with Abraham Lincoln.

[Jill Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting back side of the politics the Civil War.

[Nathan Velson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freedom is a novel of the Civil War, focused primarily on Lincoln and his inner circle; the cabinet and key senators, generals, and journalists. The novel traces these characters through the first two years of the war, from shortly after the election of 1860, to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan 1st, 1863.

The novel describes the political dealings and infighting in Washington as Lincoln tries to balance the demands of the radical abolitionists and the conservatives demanding peace. Safire's characters are almost Machiavellian, though they scheme not just for power, but also for their ideals. His portrait of Lincoln is complicated, nuanced, and not always flattering. His novel is meant to be a counterpoint to those who mythologize Lincoln as a saint, when in reality he was a complicated man whose primary motive was preserving the Union, and who more or less stumbled into emancipation. Lincoln's cause was preserving democracy and majority rule, and though he hated slavery, if he could have put down the rebellion without emancipation he would have, at least at first. Safire tries to read Lincoln's mind during these first two years, and we watch how his attitude towards emancipation evolves, to the point that when he signs the Emancipation Proclamation, the abolition of slavery had officially become a war aim. Overall, the image of Lincoln survives Safire's criticisms, and he remains the great and consequential man we know and love.

Safire's libertarian leanings seep throughout the novel, as one would expect given the subject matter, but not to any detriment. His main criticisms of Lincoln are the constitutional overreaches, such as the suspension of habeas corpus, that were committed in the prosecution of the war. As the book jacket accurately states, the central theme of the novel is the question: How much freedom must be denied individual Americans to protect and extend the freedom of all Americans?

The novel is splendidly researched, and the underbook is a invaluable resource, though flipping back and forth occasionally hurt the flow of the book. I've read quite a bit about the civil war, and I learned a lot of new things reading this book. I would recommended it to those who are students of Lincoln and the civil war, but potentially not to those who are looking for a first exposure to the subject.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm, what to say on this book? I think large parts of it should be read by high school American history students. I think it provides insight into the Civil War, a conflict that continues to shape the U.S. today and our place in the world, that I have yet to find elsewhere. Most importantly, it brings another dimension into the Lincoln narrative, a man whose legacy exists more in myth than in reality.

The book's title signals the incredible scope of the novel. This is not a book about the Civil War. Or, rather, it is a book that looks at the institution of freedom during the time of the Civil War. Safire juxtaposes the dominant questions of freedome of the time, as a segment of society advocates freedom for the slaves and suspension of civil liberties while another segment argues the opposite. How are these two views reconciled? Today we mostly have only part of that conflict, Lincoln advancing freedom of the slaves and the South warring to maintain their cruel and inhumane institution. It is the stuff of myth; when was a conflict ever that simple?

Safire demonstrates the complexities of the time. The book begins with John C Breckinridge, a man against Southern secession, against abolition and against, what he believes to be, unlawful and tyranical suspensions of Civil liberties. To the reader in the 21st century, Breckinridge's arguments against the Lincoln administration's censor of the press, suspension of habeas corpus and control of personal communications (Stanton's control of the telegraph and government reading of all messages provides an eerie parallel to debates of government access to cell phone communications) not only topical in the 21st century but comicly self-evident. The modern reader is caught in a conundrum, then, as we know how important the Civil War is to the abolition of slavery and the adoption of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments. We celebrate the ends, but we have forgotten the means. Where does that leave me, then, the modern reader? While Breckinridge ultimately fights for the Confederacy, an entity whose defeat allowed the country to move towards a more progressive and egaliterian future, his arguments for freedom resonate with modern debates of human rights.

Ultimately, at the end of the book, I am left with more questions than with which I began the novel. Likewise, I have more questions than answers. The book truly examines the American notion of freedom and, as befitting such a complex topic, leaves the reader with information, arguments and ideas with which to form their own position of freedom. Because while the ends of the Civil war are truly worth celebration and memory, the means must not go unexamined.

Finally, a note on the historicity of the book. Normally, reading about battle strategy and logistics bores me to tears. I'm much more interested in the human stories unfolding during a conflict than the analysis of the conflict in terms of troop movements and strength. Safire, however, brillantly explains the major battles occuring in 1861 and 1862 in such a way as to make them incredibly accessible. I leave this book with a much firmer understanding of the fighting at Shiloh and Antietam, not only their outcomes but why battles were fought when and where they happened. It is the only accounting of such military tactics that I not only understood, but enjoyed learning.

[Joe Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel of the politics of the Civil War years. Readers expecting detailed descriptions of battles will be disappointed because the focus is on political thoughts and activities.

This book is really two books in one. There is the novel itself and there is the is the "Sources and Commentary" which the author calls the "underbook." The underbook is a excellent, thorough nonfiction account all on its own. Readers can read the novel and then try to follow up by reading this book length section. I recommend reading this story as I did. Read one, two, or three chapters of the novel followed by reading the corresponding chapters in the underbook where you get the history the author used and where he tells how far he strayed from the history.

The author uses diaries, journals, letters, memoirs, and other sources (explained in the underbook) to construct the dialogue and inner thoughts of the characters in the story. With few exceptions, the characters are the real people we read about in history books of this era. Safire gives the reader a good sense of how and why the men and women behaved the way they did. Readers may find that their judgements of some of these individuals, such as Gen. McClellan, revised by reading this book.

Some of the main characters are not consistently present. For example, in the book length section titled "Grant," Grant does not appear much but his presence is felt throughout. This also applies to Lincoln. For a good portion of the story, Lincoln is not present as a main character. He lurks as a force in the background. This is an effective and enjoyable writing technique by Safire because the reader sees Lincoln through the eyes and actions of others; how their decisions are influenced by their perceptions. The reader gets a more rounded view of Lincoln, his thinking, his behavior, and that of those around him. Safire gives the reader a Lincoln of the 19th Century, not a Lincoln presented to us by the commentators and historians who came later.

An enjoyable feature of this book are the photos of the historical figures.

Safire concludes his underbook with, "Reverence is a barrier to appreciation. Every scholar, buff, and active reader should have a different "real' Lincoln, arrived at by personal judgment of the man who proved that democracy was not an absurdity." I think Safire successfully accomplishes this.

[Juanita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very well written book that questioned the methods that the Lincoln Administration had utilized to win the Civil War. But I thought it was also flawed. Mind you, no book or novel is perfect. But I believe "Freedom" was flawed in a way that prevented it from being a great novel . . . or a personal favorite of mine. However, I don't know about using John C. Breckinridge as the voice of criticism against Lincoln. I thought Breckinridge came off as very hypocritical. I found it amazing reading about a man who preached about democracy, freedom, etc., yet at the same expressed abhorrence at the idea of the abolition of slavery. Also, Safire and the Breckinridge character rarely criticized Jefferson Davis' government for its abuse of power. Davis' actions were merely alluded to. I also felt that Safire was a bit too infatuated with Anna Ella Carroll. He gave her most or all credit for the idea to use Union forces to invade the mid-South via the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. The reality is that William Halleck came up with the same idea around the same time she did. Safire seemed also willing to give her most of the credit for the Vicksburg Campaign. One last complaint - I will give him credit for giving dressmaker Elizabeth Keckley a voice in the novel, unlike Gore Vidal, who had failed to do the same in his 1984 novel about Lincoln. But why didn't Safire use Keckley's name as the title of one section, instead of merely naming one section as "The Negro"?

[Missmath144 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I, with my current beliefs, had lived then, I wouldn't have liked Lincoln. He stripped Americans of their freedoms in pursuit of his single-minded goal of forcing the South the remain in the Union. Disenters were jailed with no trial or accusal. One loyal soldier was forced out of the army, which was his life, in order to set an example, although the casual comment he had made to a friend was deserving of no punishment in and of itself. Nonetheless, Lincoln was on the right side, as far as the war was concerned. This was one of the first attemps at people ruling themselves. If it had failed -- if a minority could simply seceed when it didn't get its way -- would democracy ever have worked? We might have reverted to rule by crown or dictator.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Safire's Freedom gives the reader a shadowbox view of the first two years of theAmerican Civil War. Politics, policies and patriotic views of the civilian and military leaders are minutely researched and related in this interesting (if not somewhat dry) novel of America's greatest challenge. Safire relates the struggles of Abraham Lincoln in a country divided and a cabinet torn in its beliefs and individual aspirations. The book gives new insight to the struggle that could have been so easily lost. I highly recommend this book for history lovers as it gives insight into the why's above the what.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meticulously researched and dramatized, this is the missing link for anyone who would like to commemorate 150 years since the end of the Civil War. Do you recognize the names Anna Ella Carroll, John C. Breckinridge, Matthew Brady, or John Hay? Perhaps you should. These and others are people who shaped the times of the Civil War era, with their intelligence and fortitude. This novel lends view to the complex political times, as opposed to focusing mainly on military strategy or those left behind in wartime. If you have read "Gone with the Wind" as well as "Killer Angels," this novel is a nice complement and an enjoyable read.

[Leigh Tuft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It gives more insight into that period of time in our country. I just began it yesterday - 12/06/2012. Finished today - 12/13/12. Just couldn't put it down because I kept comparing then and now. It really presents an humbling experience.Everyone who complains about politics and life today should read this book, particularly if your ancestors were engaged in the War Between the States. Mine were part of the Confederacy, but I can see the relationship between North and South was very much like Teflon.I am glad the North won.

[Mark Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The American 'War and Peace'. A sweeping cast of characters, with military struggle as its backdrop. Freedom is great novel based closely on historical fact that achieves a fine balance between character driven narrative and military history. The account is gripping from start to finish and when the book ends, with the battle of Gettysburg, you are left wishing Safire had written another covering the remaining half of the war. It will appeal, obviously, to those interested in the civil war but reads well as a novel in its own right. Foxy recommends!