The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The First Complete, Unexpurgated Text / Edition 1

by Harold Holzer

Overview

The seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas held during the Illinois senatorial race of 1858 are among the most important statements in American political history, dramatic struggles over the issues that would tear apart the nation in the Civil War: the virtues of a republic and the evils of slavery. In this acclaimed book, Holzer brings us as close as possible to what Lincoln and Douglas actually said, Using transcripts of Lincoln's speeches as recorded by the pro-Douglas newspaper, and vice-versa, he offers the most reliable, unedited record available of the debates. Also included are background on the sites, crowd comments, and a new introduction.A vivid, boisterous picture of politics during our most divisive period.This fresh, fascinating examination.. deserves a place in all American history collection.-Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823223428
Publisher:	Fordham University Press
Publication date:	03/23/2004
Edition description:	2
Pages:	422
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Harold Holzer, Senior Vice President for External Affairs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is one of the nation's leading authorities on Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. He served as co-chairman of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and has written, co-written, or edited 35 books.

Editorial Reviews

These thirteen essays are all products of the annual and acclaimed Lincoln Forum. While the Union president is the central theme, the topics range far afield and offer a tasty hors d’oeuvre for Civil War scholars and students alike.”——James I. Robertson, Jr., Author of Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend.

From the Publisher

These thirteen essays are all products of the annual and acclaimed Lincoln Forum. While the Union president is the central theme, the topics range far afield and offer a tasty hors d’oeuvre for Civil War scholars and students alike.

Author of Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend. - James I. Robertson

Abraham Lincoln’s life and work produced a cornucopia of provocative ideas, analyses and opinions. John Y. Simon and Harold Holzer have made it easier for us to share in that abundance with a volume of carefully selected works from the Lincoln Forum.

former Governor of New York - Mario Cuomo

Those who have read the debates between Lincoln and Douglas that took place during the 1858 Senate race in Illinois may not have read what was actually said. The authenticity of the texts has always been in dispute, with the political presses of the day polishing the prose of their candidate and Lincoln himself publishing a sanitized version two years later. The editor of this volume (coeditor, with Mario Cuomo, of Lincoln on Democracy , LJ 10/15/90), claims to present the first authentic texts of the seven confrontations. Interspersed are shouted comments from the crowds, background on the sites, and renditions of how the debates may have appeared. What emerges is a vivid, boisterous picture of politics during our most divisive period: the dull ineloquence of Lincoln and his interplay with hecklers, the blatant bigotry and slashing humor of Douglas, and the small degree to which campaigning has changed in 135 years. This fresh, fascinating examination of a significant step in our march toward the Civil War deserves a place in all American history collections. For public, school, and academic libraries.-- James Moffet, Baldwin P.L., Birmingham, Mich.

Library Journal

According to editor and Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, the numerous previous editions of these legendary debates have all used corrupted text from the partisan print media of the time. Holzer and colleagues have now reconstructed the debates from transcriptions assembled for the first time since 1858. Holzer's colorful introduction sets the debates in political and historical context. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews