Synopses & Reviews
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. Jay Monaghan shows how the underestimated, “rustic” president dealt with diplomats both in this country and abroad—and also with contentious politicians and cabinet members.
Review
“Monaghan has told this whole complex story of Lincolns conduct of foreign affairs with vigor and wit.”—H. S. Commager, New York Times H. S. Commager
Review
“Brilliant in style, brilliant in narrative sparkle, and above all brilliant in its easy mastery of an immense body of factual data.”—Allan Nevins New York Times
Review
“A fine work of narrative history, which combines in rare fashion humor, imagination and scholarly research.”—Richard Hofstadter, New Republic Allan Nevins
Review
“A fascinating story, and Monaghan gets the most out of it. Good photographs and contemporary cartoons.”—New Yorker Richard Hofstadter - New Republic
Review
“Monaghan, able scholar and skilled writer, has done full justice to this mural-sized canvas. No student of Lincoln will want to miss it.”—Boston Globe New Yorker
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 465-482) and index.
About the Author
Jay Monaghans 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).