The Fiery Trial

Archival Summary & Scope

Pulitzer, Bancroft, and Lincoln Prize winner Eric Foner provides a definitive history of Abraham Lincoln's moral and political transformation during the Civil War era, culminating in the end of slavery. Foner traces Lincoln's journey from an early anti-slavery stance, initially tempered by constitutional adherence, through the pivotal impact of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. As president, Lincoln deftly navigated dynamic politics, embracing immediate, uncompensated abolition and the recognition of Black Americans as citizens. Foner emphasizes Lincoln's greatness in his capacity for growth, revealing a leader shaped by engagement with allies and critics. This powerful work reshapes our understanding of the nation's sixteenth president. Includes 16 pages of black-and-white illustrations and 3 maps.