Lincoln: The Presidential Archives

by Chuck Wills

There is no better treatment for the life of the great President Abraham Lincoln than this interactive, "museum-in-a-book," which includes accessible text, photography, and removable documents that, combined, provide an educational and entertaining reading experience for the whole family. This full biography covers Lincoln's childhood, his early political career, the Civil War, and his traumatic assassination.

Genres: History, Biography, Presidents, Nonfiction

159 pages, Hardcover

First published September 17, 2007

About the author

Chuck Wills is a writer, editor, and consultant specializing in military history. He has authored books on Pearl Harbor, the Tet Offensive, and the Civil War, and also writes on technology, music, and popular culture. He lives in New York.

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a long time, I've been looking for a biography of Lincoln...but not one of those 800-page door stops; something manageable. This, for me, did the trick. Not only does it give the whole life story, but it also includes what another review called a "gimmick:" reproductions of documents (like the handwritten emancipation proclamation), personal letters, and telegrams that you can take out of the book's envelopes and examine up close. Gimmick or no, I loved this. The writing in the book, while adequate, is not the most impassioned prose. These reproductions add in some of that personality and emotion...like the letter from Sherman on Christmas Day, offering to Lincoln a Christmas present of the city of Savannah, which he had just conquered.

[Allan]

A wonderfully researched and illustrated introduction to the Life and Times of our sixteenth President. The Presidential Archives, perhaps aimed at a younger audience, but enjoyable to all, is lifted to a new level of experiential delight by including removable reproductions of contemporary documents: letters, campaign materials, handbills, posters, and other ephemera. As is typical with books published by DK Books, the design is compelling and the visual well is deep.

[Simon Koenig]

What I found Interesting about Lincoln: The Presidential Archives was that for the person who know just what was taught in school; this is an excellent source of information on the Life of Abe Lincoln. Perhaps not for the Lincoln Scholar it does offer a some insights into Lincoln's life and Presidency. I found the reproducitons of documents intersting, informative, and captured his life and times very well. I recommend this book to anyone looking to start an examination of Abraham Lincoln.

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully researched and illustrated introduction to the Life and Times of our sixteenth President. The Presidential Archives, perhaps aimed at a younger audience, but enjoyable to all, is lifted to a new level of experiential delight by including removable reproductions of contemporary documents: letters, campaign materials, handbills, posters, and other ephemera. As is typical with books published by DK Books, the design is compelling and the visual well is deep.

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many biographies about Lincoln . What makes this one interesting is the reproduction of many Lincoln related documents such as copies of a The Emancipation Proclamation, campaign posters etc .