In Lincoln's Hand: His Original Manuscripts with Commentary by Distinguished Americans

by Harold Holzer, Harold Holzer (Editor), Joshua Wolf Shenk (Editor)

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth and in conjunction with the Library of Congress 2009 Bicentennial Exhibition, In Lincoln’s Hand offers an unprecedented look at perhaps our greatest president through vivid images of his handwritten letters, speeches, and even childhood notebooks—many never before made available to the public.

Edited by leading Lincoln scholars Joshua Wolf Shenk and Harold Holzer, this companion volume to the Library of Congress exhibition offers a fresh and intimate perspective on a man whose thoughts and words continue to affect history. To underscore the resonance of Lincoln’s writings on contemporary culture, each manuscript is accompanied by a reflection on Lincoln by a prominent American from the arts, politics, literature, or entertainment, including Toni Morrison, Sam Waterston, Robert Pinsky, Gore Vidal, and presidents Carter, George H.W., and George W. Bush.

While Lincoln’s words are quite well known, the original manuscripts boast a unique power and beauty and provide rare insight into the creative process. In this collection we can see the ebb and flow of Lincoln’s thoughts, emotions, hopes, and doubts. We can see where he paused to dip his pen in the ink or to capture an idea. We can see where he added a word or phrase, and where he crossed out others, searching for the most precise, and concise, expression. In these marks on the page, Lincoln’s character is available to us with a profound immediacy. From such icons as the Gettysburg Address and the inaugural speeches to seldom-seen but superb rarities, here is the world as Lincoln saw and shaped it in words and images that resound to this very day.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, American History, Presidents, Politics, Civil War

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 27, 2009

Reviews

[SeaShore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book consists of Lincoln's letters -photographs of the originals in his own handwriting followed by a type written version then an interpretation by a professional is a wonderful idea that can make a good reference book. I learned so much: Lincoln's accomplishments, his likes and dislikes; the way he read, studied and learned. It is history written in an art form. For that, I grant 5 out of 5 rating and encourage others to read it.
The author is known for Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness and Powers of Two: Finding the Essence of Innovation in Creative Pairs and gives lectures and keynotes on creativity, relationships, mental health.

One of his letters:
Letter to Mary Speed, who lived in Louisville; written on Sep 27, 1841. Mary Speed was the half sister of his closest friend, Joshua Fry Speed. Lincoln had encountered a group of shackled slaves in Ohio. Lincoln at the time was in Bloomington, Illinois. The slaves even though shackled made themselves contented having fun playing cards etc

"God renders the worst of human conditions tolerable , while he permits the best to be nothing better than tolerable."

Chained but cheerful slaves. E. L. Doctorow wonders if Lincoln was consciously or subconsciously comparing their fate with his.
He had also broken off the engagement to Mary Todd but turned around and asked her to marry him.

A rough-hewn self-made man, he did his own manual labor on the prairie.
Lacking formal education, he young Lincoln read voraciously.
He tried his hand at poetry- Robert Pinsky compared his writing to William Blake (1857 -1927). See Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience, And Other Works

Jennifer Fleichner said that, "the very activity of writing seems to cheer Lincoln - to lift his depression....."


Meanwhile, Lincoln was confused or perturbed by the Speed family who owned slaves for their farm labor. In fact there was an ad by John Speed searching for a runaway slave.


In September 1848 after a trip to Niagara Falls as he travelled home from Washington, he wrote a detailed journalling expressing his awe of the beauty and wonder of the Falls. ...The Mammoth and Mastadon now so long dead that fragments of their monstrous bones, alone testify that they ever lived, have gazed on Niagara. In that long -long time, never still for a single moment. Never dried, never froze(n), never slept, never rested.

[Doreen A. Cato · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provided first-hand accounts of President Lincoln's thoughts, deeds, and desires. His very words continue to affect even today's history. In Lincoln's Hand, took a look at where Abraham Lincoln really stood when it came to slavery and how he governed.

[Melissa McGhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing peek behind the scenes of Lincoln. Some humorous, some series and others plan fascinating.

A great book to read, learn and go back in time to discover how he was thinking and the moods he was in at certain points of making his history.

[John Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight to be able to see letters and notes in Lincoln's own writing! Each picture is accompanied by a transcription and short commentary by a famous person, including several former presidents.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language is a barrier but awesome to read Lincolns own words.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful coffee table book that I was hesitant to highlight passages, although I very much wanted to mark favorite parts that jumped out at me. I did not venture to make any highlights until the last day of reading it. This book is a delight glimpse into Lincoln’s character.

This book is not just original documents and their transcription; each document is accompanied by a commentary by a different author who selected that document for inclusion in this book. 43 Distinguished Americans contributed to this book. Sometimes I read the transcription first; sometimes I read the commentary first. Occasionally I read the image of his writing. The pictures and reproductions gave another insight into the tenor of the times.

Both of his inaugural addresses were typewritten and have additional changes that Lincoln wrote in. My curiosity caused me to look up when the typewriter was invented.

Lincoln is such a valuable study that I have added a few more books to my to-read list:
The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac
Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.
So much for the idea that by reading 2 books a week I could whittle down my to-read list. Sigh, but I am enjoying the increased learning I get through reading more. So, although I am not excited that my to-read list continues to grow, yet my understanding is growing too, and I like that part.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is maybe the most interesting I've read in five years.

It's just a collection of Lincoln's writings, photo-copies of his originals, with commentary and -- this is most helpful -- a typed version of what appears on the opposite page.

Reading the second inaug in his handwriting, or the letters to friends, or his instructions to generals (Let the thing be pressed) is interesting in this way, above all: The man had penmanship worse than any doctor you'll ever meet. If it wasn't for the typed version on the right page, much of the stuff on the left would make no sense. It's chicken scratch. For all his brilliance, for all the thought that he put into his words, he couldn't write them where anybody besides himself could read them. How funny. How cool, especially for all of us with the same problem/affliction/eccentricity.

And I couldn't get over that the president of the United States wouldn't draft up a letter, and have a secretary copy it down in more readable handwriting. The man didn't even make rough drafts and re-write them himself. All through his letters are cross-outs, edits, smudges and the like. A modern English teacher would faint.

[Manda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a art and literature person, I loved this book. It features the image of Lincoln's letter itself, the contents of it on the opposite page, and then commentary by a famous American writer, thinker, or politician.

Even though e-mail and texting has taken over our lives, I still enjoy getting a good handwritten letter. I appreciated this book because it gave me a tactile sense of Lincoln writing his thoughts on paper. I also think it gives the reader excellent insight into just how talented Lincoln was with words. Sure, we've heard it many times, but this book conveys Lincoln the writer not just from the war years, but throughout his life. And the letters are not all professionally-oriented, it contains personal letters as well. (For example, Lincoln wrote a telegram to his wife after he had a bad dream about their son.)

[Laura Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came out during the 200th celebration of Lincoln’s birthday. The Library of Congress created an exhibit and this book was created to accompany the exhibition. This book is filled with primary sources of documents written by Abe Lincoln himself and the book has commentary by a large variety of famous Americans (former presidents, authors, actors, directors, etc. The entries are a variety of personal correspondence, speeches and important documents – along with crossed out words and phrases – showing editing occurred. The compilation is interesting and factual, and would be a wonderful resource for delving in to what was going on throughout the life of President Lincoln as well as getting some insight into how he thought.

[Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful addition to my library. While I have read the contents of these manuscripts many times and even seen some of them personally, they are all here in one book. The fact that Lincoln wrote these and many more - shrinks the current crop of presidents for sure. His corrections in the writings is almost eerie to see. He did not have speechwriters - unlike today - nor any teleprompter to refer to. This is one of my most prized books in my library now.

[Elaine]

What insights to Lincoln are gained by reading these selected primary sources! Although many of the documents are well reviewed in other sources, this text includes many personal notes to friends that provide a look inside the heart of the man. His persistance and consistant focus on his values are demonstrated. I expecially appreciated current leaders reflecting on each of the selections.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. A written companion to the "With Malice Toward None" exhibit that was recently in Sac. Includes additional materials with insightful commentary. It focused on Lincoln's process of writing as well as the development of his politcal rhetoric. I learned a great deal about Lincoln the man rather than Lincoln the myth.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primary sources are usually the best sources. I was a bit hesitant to expect much from the commentaries though, considering the political (or partisan) climate of modern America. The documents written by Lincoln were helpful in my research while the commentary was patriotic, albeit fair, yet nothing more than a way to sell another book on Lincoln.

[Willa Guadalupe Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are the littlest bit interested in A. Lincoln the person rather than the mythologized icon, this book is for you. Seeing how Lincoln wrote as well as what he wrote is fascinating. There are some things here I was not familiar with & I loved reading his letters & poems.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazed at Lincoln's prose, so concise....astounding vocabulary for a man with virtually no education, even used the word "imply" correctly..
how many people do that ?????

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Various scans of President Lincoln's papers from the Library of Congress with transcriptions and commentaries.

[Richard Court · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It gives you great insight into Mr. Lincoln when you can actually read documents written in his own hand. You can even see where he dipped his pen for more ink!