Lincoln: A Photobiography

by Russell Freedman

Overview

1988 Newbery Medal Winner

Abraham Lincoln stood out in a crowd as much for his wit and rollicking humor as for his height. This Newbery Medal-winning biography of our Civil War president is warm, appealing, and illustrated with dozens of carefully chosen photographs and prints.

Russell Freedman begins with a lively account of Abraham Lincoln's boyhood, his career as a country lawyer, and his courtship and marriage to Mary Todd. Then the author focuses on the presidential years (1861 to 1865), skillfullly explaining the many complex issues Lincoln grappled with as he led a deeply divided nation through the Civil War. The book's final chapter is a moving account of that tragic evening in Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. Concludes with a sampling of Lincoln writings and a detailed list of Lincoln historical sites.

This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Read Aloud Informational Text).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899193809
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/16/1987
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,012,044
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.67(d)
Lexile:	NC1040L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

About the Author

Russell Freedman (1929-2018) received the Newbery Medal for Lincoln: A Photobiography. He was the recipient of three Newbery Honors, a National Humanities Medal, the Sibert Medal, the Orbis Pictus Award, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and was selected to give the 2006 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. Mr. Freedman lived in New York City and traveled widely to research his books.

Table of Contents

1	The Mysterious Mr. Lincoln	1
2	A Backwoods Boy	7
3	Law and Politics	27
4	Half Slave and Half Free	45
5	Emancipation	67
6	This Dreadful War	93
7	Who Is Dead in the White House?	119
	A Lincoln Sampler	133
	In Lincoln's Footsteps	138
	Books About Lincoln	142
	Acknowledgments and Picture Credits	144
	Index	146

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A realistic, perceptive, and unromanticized photobiography of Lincoln, including a sampler of quotations from his writings and speeches." Booklist, Editor's Choice

Editorial Reviews

"A realistic, perceptive, and unromanticized photobiography of Lincoln, including a sampler of quotations from his writings and speeches." Booklist, Editor's Choice

From the Publisher

This Newbery Award-winning study of our 16th president is highly readable and meticulously organized. In a boxed review, PW hailed it as a ``superb, encompassing account'' of ``an intriguing, recognizable human being.'' Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 5 Up Few, if any, of the many books written for children about Lincoln can compare with Freedman's contribution. More than 80 photographs and prints illustrate the crisp and informative text. The pictures have been well-placed to coordinate with the text; captions have been written with care as well. While many of the photographs are well-known, many less familiar pictures are also included. Freedman begins by contrasting the Lincoln of legend to the Lincoln of fact. His childhood, self-education, early business ventures, and entry into politics comprise the first half of the book, with the rest of the text covering his presidency and assassination. Freedman's extensive research is apparent in the liberal use he makes of quotations from original sources (letters, contemporary newspaper articles, etc.). Freedman makes clear the controversy and vilification that Lincoln engendered and endured during his presidency. A listing of historic sites open to the public and a sampler of wise and witty excerpts from Lincoln's writings complete the book. Well-organized and well-written, this is an outstanding example of what (juvenile) biography can be. Like Lincoln himself, it stands head and shoulders above its competition. Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, Mass.

School Library Journal

This kid-friendly and informative biography will engage a wide audience of listeners. A 1988 Newbery Award winner, the book includes interesting stories that may be familiar (Lincoln's rugged, dirt-floor-poor early life) and other facts that may not (he hated being called "Abe"). As the author offers a glimpse of life at a very different time, Robert Petkoff blends a careful (though never dry) narration with lively reenactments of regional accents. Petkoff recreates the slightly reedy voice of Lincoln, as well as the voices of friends and political figures who surrounded him during his life. This production, which is comprehensive yet fast moving, also includes a bonus feature of an enhanced CD with a slide show of archival photographs, as well as an interview with the author. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2008 - AudioFile