Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation by Allen C. Guelzo Buy book: $15.59
One of the nation's foremost Lincoln scholars offers an authoritative consideration of the document that represents the most far-reaching accomplishment of America's greatest president.
I am enjoying the interesting and fast moving writing style of this author. He's got me wondering about the "boy" in the canoe. With the repeated quotation marks around "boy," I wonder if he is more than that. I recall seeing Ft. Sumpter in the distance as we toured Charleston last spring. It was a very moving sight. A nice non-fiction selection, Suzanne. Keep up the good work.
"History provides us with defining moments from which we judge where we are with where we have been. The Civil War provides the United States with one of its critical defining moments that continues to play a vital role in defining ourselves as a Nation. Fort Sumter is the place where it began.
America's most tragic conflict ignited at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, when a chain reaction of social, economic and political events exploded into civil war. At the heart of these events was the issue of states rights versus federal authority flowing over the underlying issue of slavery.
Fueled by decades of disagreement and confrontation, South Carolina seceded in protest of Lincoln's election and the social and economic changes sure to follow. With Fort Sumter as an unyielding bastion of Federal authority, the war became inevitable.
A powerful symbol to both the South and the North, Fort Sumter remains a memorial to all that fought to hold it."
is in the details. I think its fascinating to learn the things that our history books never taught us. I appreciate the variety of subjects the non-fiction category offers. I have yet to read any of the books in their entirety, but I feel richer for the exposure to so many interesting subjects.
Don't know exactly what to say about this book - except once a society accepts a "wrong" - takes quite a bit of complicated rhetoric and actions to "undo" it - and sadly, the events of that era are still affecting our society today.
Doris, Most interesting comments.
It is easy to look back and see their reasoning and where we think they did wrong - makes me wonder how history will look at us. Is there a wrong I now accept as expedient? Acceptable? And will history shake their heads in wonder at my reasoning.
