James oakes considers lincoln s views on race and citizenship. Abraham lincoln and american slavery also earned the lincoln prize. Abraham lincoln and american slavery 2010 by the american history scholar eric foner received the 2011 pulitzer prize in history. He responded to questions from members of the audience. Eric foner is dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university, where he earned his b. The political genius of abraham lincoln and david herbert donalds lincoln, foners book about lincoln and slavery, the fiery trial. The impulse to unification was strong in the nineteenth century. Abraham lincoln and american slavery by eric foner. What reconstructionera laws can teach our democracy the. Foner wrote this important book to show how these competing views of reconstruction and the civil war amendments have shaped incompatible interpretations of the constitution. Indeed, in his book lincoln reconsidered, pulitzer prizewinning lincoln biographer david donald wrote that the communist party u.
If america ever hopes to resolve its racial dilemmas, we need to repudiate the worst of lincoln, while embracing the best. Thus, i read our lincoln hoping it would be of the same high quality as i found these three others of his to be. Lincolns evolving thoughts on slavery, and freedom. Eric foner, dewitt clinton professor emeritus of history, specializes in the civil war and reconstruction, slavery, and 19thcentury america. Eric foner is one of the most respected historians in the lincoln community and for good reason. Among these original essays by prizewinning historians, james m. Voices of freedom a documentary history by eric foner. People and politics after the civil war, which opened at the virginia historical society in 1995. Foner begins with lincoln s youth in indiana and illinois and follows the trajectory of his career across an increasingly tense and shifting political terrain from illinois to washington, d. He openly acknowledges in the fiery trial that lincoln has always loomed large in his research even if he had not hitherto taken centre stage as subject ever since he wrote his doctoral dissertation over four decades ago. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Boston globe, the fiery trial, abraham lincoln and american slavery, eric foner, 9780393340662. As foner explains, the idea of the book is not to engage with previous biographies of lincoln or to give a comprehensive account of his life, but instead to show that lincolns career was a process of moral and political education and deepening antislavery conviction. His most recent book is the story of american freedom w. Dec 02, 2019 although foner clearly admires lincoln, the book, which won the pulitzer prize for history, bore out the logic of his subjects modest statement in 1864 that i claim not to have controlled. Abraham lincoln and american slavery was published in 2010 and received the 2011 pulitzer prize for history. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, eric foner gives us the definitive history of lincoln. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, by eric foner w. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, examines what the president truly believed about human bondage author eric foner.
In this book, foner examines lincoln s thoughts and attitudes toward slavery from early in his life up to the moment he signed the emancipation proclamation and beyond. While many thousands of books deal with lincoln and slavery, eric foner has written the definitive account of this crucial subject, illuminating in a highly original and profound way the interactions of race, slavery, public opinion, politics, and lincolns own character that led to the wholly improbable uncompensated emancipation of some four million slaves. January 19, 2015 while writing his new book, historian eric foner relied on a recently discovered record of slaves escapes. Foner, eric department of history columbia university. Sep 29, 2010 after reading ron chernows grant, doris goodwins team of rivals. Studies in the literature of the civil war the literary critic edmund wilson explained the most important consequence of that war in a single profound paragraph. Oct, 2008 i have read and appreciated eric foners other books on the birth of the republican party, reconstruction, and the underground rr. Oct 24, 2010 but, as eric foners new book, the fiery trial, demonstrates, all great changes in human affairs happen in history and through time. Apr 10, 2012 best books and surprising insights on lincoln politicians love to invoke honest abe, often while twisting his legacy to fit their own purposes. In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, eric foner gives us the. While many thousands of books deal with lincoln and slavery, eric foner has written the definitive account of this crucial subject, illuminating in a highly original and profound way the interactions of race, slavery, public opinion, politics, and lincoln s own character that led to the wholly improbable uncompensated emancipation of some four million slaves. Oct 06, 2010 eric foner on his new book, the fiery trial.
A short history of reconstruction by eric foner summary. A master historian, eric foner draws lincoln and the broader history of the period into perfect balance. There are also brilliant essays on lincoln s literary style, religious beliefs, and family life. Foner begins with lincolns you from a master historian, the story of lincolns and the nationstransformation through the crucible of slavery and emancipation. America in the age of lincoln, which opened at the chicago historical society in 1990, and americas reconstruction. Lincolns political career he was naturally antislavery but adhered to the constitutions protection. A masterwork by the preeminent historian of the civil war era. Yes, we do if the book is by so richly informed a commentator as eric foner. Respected historian eric foner s new book, the fiery trial. But, as eric foner s new book, the fiery trial, demonstrates, all great changes in human affairs happen in history and through time.
Eric foner is one of a handful of historians who have won the bancroft and pulitzer prizes within the same year. He openly acknowledges in the fiery trial that lincoln has always loomed large in. Historian eric foner traces how lincolns thoughts about slavery. In assessing the bancroft prizewinning work of one of americas premiere historians, the natural tendency is simply to throw up ones hands and say, kudos. Abraham lincoln and american slavery is a historical nonfiction book written by american historian eric foner. Oct 27, 2011 conversations host harry kreisler welcomes pulitzer prize winning historian eric foner for a discussion of his book, the fiery trial. In his teaching and scholarship, foner focuses on the civil war and reconstruction, slavery, and nineteenthcentury america. In the vast library on lincoln, foners book stands out as the most sensible and. There are also brilliant essays on lincolns literary style, religious beliefs, and family life. As we begin a raft of sesquicentennials that will carry us through at least the next half. Abraham lincoln and american slavery was a little disappointing. He says the documents paint a revealing picture of life on the. He writes extensively on american political history, the history of freedom, the early history of the republican party, africanamerican biography, reconstruction, and historiography, and has been a member of the faculty at the columbia university department of history since 1982.
Conversations host harry kreisler welcomes pulitzer prize winning historian eric foner for a discussion of his book, the fiery trial. As with any collection of pieces the chapters in this book are of variable quality. The book is a narrow biography it doesnt trace all of abraham lincoln s life, but instead uses his speeches, letters, and other writings to trace the evolution of his thinking and. I suspect that, at some level, eric foner was always going to write this book. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, winner of the pulitzer prize. The conversation focuses on lincoln s relationship to. The proclamation kind of sort of freed slaves in the states of the confederacy read eric foner s assessment of the document below and is rarely shown in public due to its fragile condition unlike the charters of freedom, which were written on highquality animal skin paper, lincoln wrote his jan. As the eminent historian eric foner explains in the second founding, the failure of the united states to build an egalitarian society on the ashes of. Foners book about lincoln and slavery, the fiery trial. Jan 26, 2014 a short history of reconstruction by eric foner is an important addition to documented american history. James oakes considers lincolns views on race and citizenship.
Foner is a respected historian of the civil war and reconstruction era, a prolific author and is the dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university. The american civil war and its aftermath is a critical period in the nations history and one that profoundly influenced subsequent sociopolitical developments. Lincolns ideas regarding race and slavery underwent. The story of emancipation and reconstruction, 2005, etc. Taking full advantage of the current golden age of lincoln scholarship, foner historycolumbia univ forever free. He responded to telephone calls and electronic communications.
Abraham lincoln and american slavery reprint by eric foner isbn. Eric foner is a professor of history at columbia university and the author, most recently, of the fiery trial. Abraham lincoln and american slavery ebook written by eric foner. Abraham lincoln and american slavery is a nonfiction book by writer eric foner. Eric foner thinks anew about lincoln and slavery youtube.
Eric foner books list of books by author eric foner. On slavery and race, eric foner writes of lincoln and the movement to colonize emancipated slaves outside the united states. Abraham lincoln and american slavery by eric foner w. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, examines what the president truly believed about human bondage. See all books authored by eric foner, including give me liberty an american history, volume 1, and reconstruction. Eric foner has also been the cocurator, with olivia mahoney, of two prizewinning exhibitions on american history. The evolution of father abraham respected historian eric foners new book, the fiery trial. He is dewitt clinton professor emeritus of history at columbia university. Americas unfinished revolution, 18631877, and more on. The unusual aspect of this particular book is that all the pages are blank save the first one with a bold a.
Eric foner, author of gateway to freedom while writing his new book, historian eric foner relied on a recently discovered record of slaves escapes. Although foner clearly admires lincoln, the book, which won the pulitzer prize for history, bore out the logic of his subjects modest statement in 1864 that i claim not to have controlled. It was also awarded both the bancroft prize and the lincoln prize. The conversation focuses on lincolns relationship to. Sep 24, 2011 eric foner talked about his book, the fiery trial. Eric foner, harry jaffa, and virtually all the more politically correct historians and. Three books explore lincoln s complex genius every generation of americans reinvents abraham lincoln in its own image. Lincoln s ideas regarding race and slavery underwent. Eric foner is the author of many awardwinning books on the civil war and reconstruction, including the fiery trial. Eric foner, the second founding, 1st ed, signed abraham.
Abraham lincoln and american slavery, examines what the. Foner tackles what would seem to be an obvious topic. Eric foner examines abraham lincolns thoughts on slavery. In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, eric foner gives us the definitive history of lincoln and the end of slavery in america. Sep 26, 2011 eric foner is the author of many awardwinning books on the civil war and reconstruction, including the fiery trial.