Presents the story of Lincoln's conduct of foreign affairs. On the eve of the American Civil War, the old predatory powers of Europe were waiting to capitalize on the split in the Union. President Lincoln had to prevent foreign governments from giving official recognition to the Confederacy. This book shows how the president dealt with diplomats.

Jay Monaghan's other books include "Civil War on the Western Border, 1854-1865" and "Custer: The Life of General George Armstrong Custer", both available as Bison Books. Howard Jones is University Research Professor in history at the University of Alabama and author of "Union in Peril: The Crisis over British Intervention in the Civil War" (Nebraska 1997).