Book: Lincoln in the World: The Making of a Statesman and the Dawn of American Power
Author: Kevin Peraino
Narrator (if applicable):n/a
Release date (if applicable): Published
Synopsis: From Goodreads:
A captivating look at how Abraham Lincoln evolved into one of our seminal foreign-policy presidents—and helped point the way to America’s rise to world power.
This is the story of one of the most breathtaking feats in the annals of American foreign policy—performed by one of the most unlikely figures. Abraham Lincoln is not often remembered as a great foreign-policy president. He had never traveled overseas and spoke no foreign languages. And yet, during the Civil War, Lincoln and his team skillfully managed to stare down the Continent’s great powers—deftly avoiding European intervention on the side of the Confederacy. In the process, the United States emerged as a world power in its own right.
Engaging, insightful, and highly original, Lincoln in the World is a tale set at the intersection of personal character and national power. The narrative focuses tightly on five distinct, intensely human conflicts that helped define Lincoln’s approach to foreign affairs—from his debate, as a young congressman, with his law partner over the conduct of the Mexican War, to his deadlock with Napoleon III over the French occupation of Mexico. Bursting with colorful characters like Lincoln’s bowie-knife-wielding minister to Russia, Cassius Marcellus Clay; the cunning French empress, Eugénie; and the hapless Mexican monarch Maximilian—Lincoln in the World draws a finely wrought portrait of a president and his team at the dawn of American power.
My rating: 4 Stars
My opinion: A bit dry in places but making me love Lincoln even more. Shows his strengths as a statesman coming from a lack of education and grooming.
Has aspects of it that feel as a fictional read which I loved. Very inviting for the most part. I loved the deeper learning of key people in Lincoln's life, such as Herndon and his cabinet.I think one of the things I found most interesting was how much Mary Todd Lincoln had tried to interject herself into foreign relations. I knew of her "feedback" into national issues, but had not heard of foreign affairs.
May be good for someone who has done some basic studying of Lincoln to have a greater appreciation of this great man.
Well researched and documented.
Source: Publisher for review
Would I recommend? : ALWAYS! It was a great and unique book on the "Lincoln" subject
Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Stand Alone
I probably would not read the book, unless it was for research or something similar, but, on the other hand, I found your review to be particularly interesting. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane! I tend to LOVE books like this, so I seek them out. I thought it gave another view of Lincoln that we never see written on.
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