#541557 in Books Simon n Schuster 2009-01-13 2009-01-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.20 x 6.12l; 1.00 #File Name: 0743273214416 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Lincoln and Douglas and Their EraBy Ralph EastwickProf Guelzo has written an excellent book on the Lincoln-Douglas debates that really is more a full discussion of the Senate campaign of 1858 and the political maneuverings of prior years leading up to that contest. Guelzo presents Lincoln as a political person; in a similar manner to Sidney Blumenthal's portrait in the first of his projected three-volume study of Lincoln. What I particularly enjoyed was Guelzo's almost day-by-day record of the candidates' travels throughout Illinois (complete with maps); and the seven debates themselves. Prof Guelzo obviously did yeoman research in the newspapers of that day to come up with the color and details of both Lincoln and Douglas' speeches and rebuttals. Very much worth your time. I highly recommend Prof Guelzo on any aspect of Lincoln and the Civil War; as he is a very; very good narrative historian. In other words; he tells a good story and keeps the reader interested throughout.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Guelzo is awesome. So is Lincoln.By ChelseaThis book is an excellent one. Dr. Guelzo certainly knows his stuff.Rather than focusing the book primarily on the seven debates between Lincoln and Douglas; Guelzo expands the picture and examines in detail the entire political campaigns of 1858 in order to give the debates context. "Lincoln and Douglas" taught me much I didn't know about Lincoln as a man and as a politician (sometimes we forget that in addition to being one of the greatest U.S. presidents in history; he also had to maneuver the political scene of his day - and boy; could he maneuver).One star off for a lot of political jargon (which; being quite young in the world of elections and voting; I didn't quite understand) and for not printing the full texts of the debates in the book. Still; I recommend it highly.On a side note; I had the privilege of listening to Dr. Guelzo speak at my college last month; and he is a wonderfully knowledgable historian and the most eloquent speaker I've ever listened to. If you ever have a chance to hear him present on CIvil War topics; go with a notebook; pen; and high expectations.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Well written and livelyBy MARThis book places the debates in the context of 1850's America when slavery was ascendant - The Fugitive Slave Act; The Kansas-Nebraska Act; Repeal of the Missouri Compromise; Bleeding Kansas and the Dred Scott Decision showed all branches of the Federal Government doing everything they could to appease slavery. The mastermind behind some of these laws was none other than Stephen A. Douglas. Senator from Illinois. Lincoln was willing to call him out on it and make him defend all of these laws and even the Dred Scott decision which was correctly seen as the culmination of all these other acts. Lincoln did not win the senate but he did change the debate forever.
