Herndon's Life Of Lincoln

William H. Herndon's Life of Lincoln, written to counteract the worshipful view of Abraham Lincoln held by the public, caused enormous controversy when first published in 1889. Unlike the hagiographies that celebrate the selflessness of the "Great Emancipator," Herndon's account emphasizes Lincoln's private life: his brooding, self-doubt, warring contradictions. Many have disputed Herndon's political and personal insights, in particular his famous conjecture of Lincoln's passion for Ann Rut...