In this account Abraham Lincoln is placed in historical perspective by following his rise through 19th-century history and politics, his conduct of the Civil War, the emancipation of the slaves, his assassination and its effects on the nation and his place in American political mythology.

The third volume in the CREATORS OF THE AMERICAN MIND series, this text offers an approach to Lincoln and his place in American history that is as accurate as it is novel. Unlike texts that only serve to reinforce the mythology that has been built around this powerful individual, Baker's text presents him as a flesh-and-blood human being by providing primary documents authored by Lincoln himself. Complemented by works presented by Lincoln scholars who have studied him from a variety of historical perspectives, the book places Lincoln in historical context. From his rise through the ranks of nineteenth-century politicians to his posthumous elevation to a central place in American political mythology, this book explores the complete picture of Lincoln.