Overview

"In his acclaimed book Lincoln's Virtues, William Lee Miller explored Abraham Lincoln's intellectual and moral development. Now he completes his ""ethical biography,"" showing how the amiable and inexperienced backcountry politician was transformed by constitutional alchemy into an oath-bound head of state. Faced with a radical moral contradiction left by the nation's Founders, Lincoln struggled to find a balance between the universal ideals of Equality and Liberty and the monstrous injustice of human slavery. With wit and penetrating sensitivity, Miller brings together the great themes that have become Lincoln's legacy—preserving the United States of America while ending the odious institution that corrupted the nation's meaning—and illuminates his remarkable presidential combination: indomitable resolve and supreme magnanimity."

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9781400034161

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Reviews

One of the best and most beautifully written accounts of the great man's years in the White House. <br>-- The Washington Post <br> Superb. . . . Miller's portrait of Lincoln exhibits many familiar facets, but by isolating and judging him on that moral plane he shows how intelligence, humor, patience, and character can combine spectacularly. <br>-- Chicago Sun-Times <br> Deserves to be placed alongside the masterpieces by David Herbert Donald, Merrill Peterson and Michael Burlingame. . . . Exceptional. <br>-- The Sunday Star-Ledger <br> Splendid. . . . This rich and rewarding book should be enjoyed by all those interested in Lincoln or the presidency in general. <br>-- BookPage

One of the best and most beautifully written accounts of the great man's years in the White House. -- The Washington Post Superb. . . . Miller's portrait of Lincoln exhibits many familiar facets, but by isolating and judging him on that moral plane he shows how intelligence, humor, patience, and character can combine spectacularly. -- Chicago Sun-Times Deserves to be placed alongside the masterpieces by David Herbert Donald, Merrill Peterson and Michael Burlingame. . . . Exceptional. -- The Sunday Star-Ledger Splendid. . . . This rich and rewarding book should be enjoyed by all those interested in Lincoln or the presidency in general. -- BookPage One of the best and most beautifully written accounts of the great man's years in the White House. The Washington Post Superb. . . . Miller's portrait of Lincoln exhibits many familiar facets, but by isolating and judging him on that moral plane he shows how intelligence, humor, patience, and character can combine spectacularly. Chicago Sun-Times Deserves to be placed alongside the masterpieces by David Herbert Donald, Merrill Peterson and Michael Burlingame. . . . Exceptional. The Sunday Star-Ledger Splendid. . . . This rich and rewarding book should be enjoyed by all those interested in Lincoln or the presidency in general. BookPage Praise for William Lee Miller's President Lincoln Miller is uncommonly skilled at blending narrative and analysis.... President Lincoln is one of the best and most beautifully written accounts of the great man's years in the White House. --Michael F. Bishop, Washington Post Book World A superb encounter....Miller's portrait of Lincoln exhibits many familiar facets, but by isolating and judging him on that moral plane he shows how intelligence, humor, patience, and character can combine spectacularly. --John Barron, Chicago Sun-Times [T]horoughly explored and beautifully argued. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Subtle and nuanced . . . one of the most insightful accounts of Lincoln published in recent years. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Splendid . . . This rich and rewarding book should be enjoyed by all those interested in Lincoln or the presidency in general. --Roger Bishop, Bookpage Miller's examination will hearten Lincoln admirers everywhere. --Gilbert Taylor, Booklist [Miller] uses his formidable scholarship to illustrate and sketch-seemingly effortlessly-Lincoln's genius for leadership. . . . That's not to say, however, that it is written in a ponderous or clunky 'academic' style; far from it. Indeed, the author shows a wry sense of humor. . . . The reader of The Duty of a Statesman will, almost certainly, come away feeling that they know Abraham Lincoln far better than they did.. . . But they also may feel they have more than a glimmer of what qualities are essential for any leader of this nation. --Jack Lessenberry, Toledo Blade There are thousands of Lincoln biographies available, butMiller's, with his focus on statescraft, deserves to be placed alongside the masterpieces by David Herbert Donald, Merrill Peterson and Michael Burlingame. . . . [A]n exceptional portrait of one of the greatest statesmen in American history. --Tom de Poto, Sunday Star-Ledger Praise for Lincoln's Virtues Miller pursues this ever-intriguing interior Lincoln in his usual witty, reader-friendly and conversational voice. In this journey through a great and uncommonly large sensibility, we feel we are in the hands of a Virgil worthy of the trip. --Edwin M. Yoder, Jr., Washington Post Book World Compelling and readable. --John A. Barnes, The Wall Street Journal Miller writes in a pleasingly conversational tone that eases the reader into and through some complex discussions. . . . The depth of this study is obvious and impressive. He presents his ideas with a youthful enthusiasm, leavened with wisdom granted by age. Lincoln's Virtues is a worthy testament to the goodness of a great man. --Mark Dunkelman, Providence Journal As engrossing and intriguing an explanation for Lincoln's emergence as I have read in years, in a book full of wisdom, insight, and charm. --Harold Holzer, Civil War Book Review From the Hardcover edition.

One of the best and most beautifully written accounts of the great man's years in the White House. The Washington Post Superb. . . . Miller's portrait of Lincoln exhibits many familiar facets, but by isolating and judging him on that moral plane he shows how intelligence, humor, patience, and character can combine spectacularly. Chicago Sun-Times Deserves to be placed alongside the masterpieces by David Herbert Donald, Merrill Peterson and Michael Burlingame. . . . Exceptional. The Sunday Star-Ledger Splendid. . . . This rich and rewarding book should be enjoyed by all those interested in Lincoln or the presidency in general. BookPage

One of the best and most beautifully written accounts of the great man's years in the White House. <i>The Washington Post </i> Superb. . . . Miller's portrait of Lincoln exhibits many familiar facets, but by isolating and judging him on that moral plane he shows how intelligence, humor, patience, and character can combine spectacularly. <i>Chicago Sun-Times </i> Deserves to be placed alongside the masterpieces by David Herbert Donald, Merrill Peterson and Michael Burlingame. . . . Exceptional. <i>The Sunday Star-Ledger </i> Splendid. . . . This rich and rewarding book should be enjoyed by all those interested in Lincoln or the presidency in general. <i>BookPage</i>

Author Information

William Lee Miller has taught at Yale University, Smith College, Indiana University, and the University of Virginia, where he is currently Miller Center of Public Affairs Scholar in Ethics and Institutions. He has been an editor and writer on a political magazine, a speechwriter, and a three-term alderman. He is the author of numerous books. Arguing About Slavery won the D.B. Hardeman Prize for the best book on Congress.

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