Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years. Carl Sandburg.

Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years
Carl Sandburg
New York: Dell Publishing Co., Inc.
1926 (1960)

Why read it? Biography full of the wit, wisdom, and learning of Abraham Lincoln growing up. Numerous anecdotes. Analysis of the man and insights into his character. Vivid description of his times and of others who were a part of his time. You will journey with Lincoln from his forebears through his youth to Washington. And you will learn a lot along the way. You will find it hard to put this great American's story down. When I finished reading the first of this two-part biography, I was thinking, "What does Abraham Lincoln's life say about America?"

Some sample ideas from the book:

"Was he thinking of the Kentucky father whose two sons died in battle, one in Union blue, the other in Confederate gray, the father inscribing over their double grave, 'God knows which was right.' " "Challenged to a duel and given a choice of weapons, Lincoln said, 'Cow dung at five paces.' " "He thought that people needed to read history in order to appreciate the value of our free institutions." "He was so encumbered by mental depression that he dared never to carry a knife." "Lincoln played with words: 'Jackass' became 'jassack.' " "He opposed changing the Constitution because those changes would create new difficulties." "The emotional turmoil of the times boiled into despicable insults aimed at Lincoln and led to his assassination."

"Lincoln stands for decency, honest dealing, plain talk and funny stories." "So Nancy Hanks Lincoln died, 34 years old, a pioneer sacrifice, with memories of monotonous, endless everyday chores, of mystic Bible verses read over and over for their promises, of blue wistful hills and a summer when the crab apple blossoms flamed white...." "The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll git me a book I ain't read." "It seemed that Abe made books tell him more than they told other people." "In the making of him, the element of silence was immense." "He walked thirty miles to the courthouse to hear lawyers speak and to see how they argued and acted."

"I have now come to the conclusion never again to think of marrying; and for this reason, I can never be satisfied with any one who would be block-head enough to have me." "The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject anything, is not whether it have any evil in it; but whether it have more of evil, than of good." "But it has so happened in all ages of the world, that some have labored, and otters have, without labor, enjoyed a large proportion of the fruits." "Lincoln...read the Bible closely, knew it from cover to cover, its famous texts, stories and psalms; he quoted it in talks to juries, in speeches, in letters." Daniel Webster: "Secession! Peaceable secession! Sir, your eyes and mine are never destined to see that miracle."

Quote. Brazilian Ambassador Joaquin Nabuco: "But whether the spirit of authority, or that of freedom increases, Lincoln's legend will ever appear more luminous in the amalgamation of centuries, because he supremely incarnated both those spirits."

Quote: New York Herald: "If he [Lincoln] persists in his present position...he will totter into a dishonored grave, driven there perhaps by the hands of an assassin, leaving behind him a memory more execrable than that of Arnold--more despised than that of the traitor Catiline."