Tried by War, James M. McPherson
Tried by War, James M. McPherson
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Tried by War
Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief

Author: James M. McPherson

Narrator: George Guidall

Unabridged: 9 hr 39 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 10/07/2008

Synopsis

"James M. McPherson’s Tried by War is a perfect primer . . . for anyone who wishes to under­stand the evolution of the president’s role as commander in chief. Few histo­rians write as well as McPherson, and none evoke the sound of battle with greater clarity." —The New York Times Book Review

The Pulitzer Prize–winning author reveals how Lincoln won the Civil War and invented the role of commander in chief as we know it

As we celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, this study by preeminent, bestselling Civil War historian James M. McPherson provides a rare, fresh take on one of the most enigmatic figures in American history. Tried by War offers a revelatory (and timely) portrait of leadership during the greatest crisis our nation has ever endured. Suspenseful and inspiring, this is the story of how Lincoln, with almost no previous military experience before entering the White House, assumed the powers associated with the role of commander in chief, and through his strategic insight and will to fight changed the course of the war and saved the Union.

About The Author

James M. McPherson is the George Henry Davis ’86 Professor of History Emeritus at Princeton University. He is the bestselling author of numerous books on the Civil War, including Battle Cry of Freedom, which won the Pulitzer Prize, Tried by War, and For Cause and Comrades, both of which won the Lincoln Prize.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bill

This is a concise, well-written primer on Abraham Lincoln and his conduct in waging the Civil War, that hits upon all the important points with clear explanations and analysis. There’s nothing bad about it, per se, but I found it rather too concise and elementary, and didn’t think it really lived up......more

Goodreads review by Steven

This book, well written, is authored by the eminent historian James McPherson. The focus is plainly stated at the outset (Page xiv): "In the vast literature on our sixteenth president, however, the amount of attention devoted to his role as commander in chief is disproportionately smaller than the a......more

Goodreads review by Joseph

From an acclaimed Civil War historian comes this nuanced look at Lincoln as commander-in-chief of the nation's military. The book focuses on some of the struggles the president faced during the war and the tough decisions he had to make regarding military affairs as well as civil liberties and Const......more

Quotes

"James M. McPherson’s Tried by War is a perfect primer . . . for anyone who wishes to under­stand the evolution of the president’s role as commander in chief. Few histo­rians write as well as McPherson, and none evoke the sound of battle with greater clarity. There is scarcely anyone writing today who mines original ­sources more diligently. In Tried by War, McPherson draws on almost 50 years of research to present a cogent and concise narrative of how Lincoln, working against enormous odds, saved the United States of America." —The New York Times Book Review

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