Foner begins with lincoln s youth in indiana and illinois and follows the trajectory of his career across an increasingly tense and shifting political terrain from illinois to washington, d. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, examines what the. From a master historian, the story of lincolns and the nationstransformation through the crucible of slavery and emancipation. Foner tackles what would seem to be an obvious topic. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, gave this years lecture. The evolution of father abraham respected historian eric foners new book, the fiery trial. Lincolns evolving thoughts on slavery, and freedom. In his teaching and scholarship, foner focuses on the civil war and reconstruction, slavery, and nineteenthcentury america. In a work of deep scholarship, foner gives us a life of lincoln as it intertwined with slavery, the defining issue of the time and the tragic hallmark of american history. Foner traces the evolution of lincolns thoughts on slavery in the fiery trial. Columbia historian and bancroft prize winner foner free soil, free labor, free men traces the complexities of lincolns evolving ideas about slavery and africanamericans. Having probed the politics of the civil war era, foner is in a strong position to offer what amounts to a political biography of lincoln.
How did the institution of slavery affect the country as a whole. Eric foneris the author of many awardwinning books on the civil war and reconstruction, including the fiery trial. Analysis of free soil, free labor free men by eric foner. Abraham lincoln and american slavery is a historical nonfiction book written by american historian eric foner. Sep 29, 2010 from a master historian, the story of lincolns and the nationstransformation through the crucible of slavery and emancipation. Thats around two a week, on average, since the end of the american civil war. The book is not just a recapitulation of the massive record of lincoln and slavery but, in characteristic foner style, recasts the scope for assessing this vital part of history. Eric foner has 125 books on goodreads with 80566 ratings. Oct 27, 2010 eric foner talked about his book, the fiery trial. Eric foners the fiery trial examines abraham lincolns views on american slavery, southern secession and the convergence of events that. Norton,in which he explores lincoln s role in the ending of slavery in the united states.
Oct 08, 2011 eric foner, author of the fiery trial. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, by eric foner w. If america ever hopes to resolve its racial dilemmas, we need to repudiate the worst of lincoln, while embracing the best. Foner s lincoln emerges as a leader, one whose greatness lies in his capacity for moral and political growth through real engagement with allies and critics alike. Foner instead seeks to return lincoln to his historical setting amid the backdrop of a mass popular movement against slavery xvii.
Foner has written extensively on history, including a focus on the history of black people in america as well as the civil war. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, winner of the. Foner begins with lincolns youth in indiana and illinois and follows the trajectory of his career. He is one of only two persons to serve as president of the organization of american historians, american historical association, and society of american historians.
Professor foner s 2007 awards included festschrift in honor of eric foner. A masterwork by the preeminent historian of the civil war era. Oct 24, 2010 there is also no doubt that lincoln was absolutely crucial to the ultimate timing and the manner in which american slavery ended in the civil war. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, winner of the pulitzer. Eric foner is dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university. Sep 24, 2011 eric foner talked about his book, the fiery trial. A well orchestrated examination of lincolns changing views of. Nov 30, 2010 historian eric foner has just published the fiery trial. In the preface, the author expresses his intention with this book. A masterwork by the pree minent historian of the civil war era. Abraham lincoln always thought slavery was unjust but struggled with what to do once slavery ended. Eric foner thinks anew about lincoln and slavery youtube. Analysis of free soil, free labor free men by eric foner cram.
Dec 17, 2020 a braham lincoln, memorialised as a child of the frontier, selfmade man and liberator of the slaves, has been the subject of more than 16,000 books, according to david s. Abraham lincoln and american slavery won the pulitzer, bancroft, and lincoln prizes for 2011. Eric foner is dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university, where he earned his b. Columbia historian and bancroft prize winner foner free soil, free labor, free men traces the complexities of lincoln s evolving ideas about slavery and africanamericans.
His most recent book is the story of american freedom w. In the early chapters of foners book, it appears that lincoln is not going to be the hero of the story of his own rise to greatness. We see lincoln, a pragmatic politician grounded in principle, deftly navigating the. Well, terry, i learned that myself when i was in high school in my history book, that this was my teacher told me this was back in the 1950s that reconstruction was the lowest. In the vast library on lincoln, foner s book stands out as the most sensible and sensitive reading of lincoln s lifetime involvement with slavery and the most. Abraham lincoln and american slavery by eric foner is a historical nonfiction book which examines president abraham lincoln s views on slavery from his years as a boy to the moment he signed the emancipation proclamation. Historian eric foner traces how lincoln s thoughts about slavery and freed slaves mirrored americas own transformation in the fiery trial. Buy the fiery trial abraham lincoln and american slavery book. Throughout his work, foner evinces a fascination with how. Sep 26, 2011 about the author 2011 eric foner is the author of many awardwinning books on the civil war and reconstruction, including the fiery trial. Oct 25, 2010 eric foner s book, the fiery trial getting at abraham lincoln and the ordeal of slavery requires us to get inside the mind of an individual in so far as its possible. He writes extensively on american political history, the history of freedom, the early history of the republican party, africanamerican biography, reconstruction, and historiography, and has been a member of the faculty at the columbia university department of history since 1982.
Foner is one of the leading historians of 19th century america, and his book won the pulitzer, bancroft, and lincoln prizes. Freedom, race, and power in american history, and the columbia college alumni associations john jay award for distinguished. Winner of the pulitzer prize, the bancroft prize, and the lincoln prize in this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, eric foner gives us the definitive history of lincoln and the end of slavery in america. Then an essay is included on the idea of free labor which had many opinions on eric foner s book.
About the author eric foner is the author of many awardwinning books on the civil war and reconstruction, including the fiery trial. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, examines what the president truly believed about human bondage. From a master historian, the story of lincolns and the nationst. In assessing the bancroft prizewinning work of one of americas premiere historians, the natural tendency is simply to throw up ones hands and say, kudos. The author demonstrates how lincoln navigated a dynamic political landscape deftly, moving in measured steps, often on a path forged by abolitionists and radicals in his party, and that lincoln s greatness lay in his. Boston globe, the fiery trial, abraham lincoln and american slavery, eric foner, 9780393340662. Well, yes, we do if the book is by so richly informed a commentator as eric foner. Boston globe, the fiery trial, abraham lincoln and american slavery, eric. He responded to questions from he responded to questions from september 24, 2011. The buried promise of the reconstruction amendments the new. The inclusion of an essay which was show more content the book free soil, free labor, free men mainly aligned in the time period of the 1800s. A master historian, eric foner draws lincoln and the broader history of the period into perfect balance. He explains how lincolns changing thoughts about slavery and the role of.
Yes, we doif the book is by so richly informed a commentator as eric foner. Conversations host harry kreisler welcomes pulitzer prize winning historian eric foner for a discussion of his book, the fiery trial. While many thousands of books deal with lincoln and slavery, eric foner has written the definitive account of this crucial subject, illuminating in a highly original and profound way the interactions of race, slavery, public opinion, politics, and lincoln s own character that led to the wholly improbable uncompensated emancipation of some four million slaves. This book helps us understand what a tortured and convoluted process it is to make a social revolution, and the mettle of the man it takes to lead it. Foner introduced the book by using a preface and explaining his interest in the antebellum period. And the point here is that with abraham lincoln as professor foner has so well articulated is difficult to get into that mind because he conceals himself. Sep 09, 2019 the fiery trial, his story of lincoln s relationship to the idea and reality of american slavery, won the pulitzer prize, in 2011. Abraham lincoln and american slavery 2010 by the american history scholar er ic foner received the 2011 pulitzer prize in history. Historian eric foner on the perennial relevance of abraham. Abraham lincoln and american slavery by foner, eric and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. By the 1830s, what we call the age of jackson, slavery was really entrenched.
In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, eric foner gives the definitive history of abraham lincoln and the end of slavery in america. In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, eric foner gives us the definitive history of abraham lincoln and the end of slavery in america. But as a full portrait of lincoln s views on slavery. Abraham lincoln and american slavery, winner of the pulitzer prize. Along with lincoln, the book s other key figure is john quincy adams. Eric foner on lincoln and slavery the evolution of father abraham respected historian eric foners new book, the fiery trial. Foner begins with lincolns youth in indiana and illinois and follows the trajectory of his career across an. Boston globe, the fiery trial, abraham lincoln and american slavery, eric foner, 9780393340662 nortons covid19 response.
Foner tackles what would seem to be an obvious topic, lincoln and slavery. Foner, eric department of history columbia university. Most professional historians will find this emphasis on context congenial, and few will find much to criticize in the book as a whole. In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, eric foner gives us the definitive history of lincoln and the end of slavery in america.
Foner begins with lincolns youth in indiana and illinois and follows the trajectory of his career across an increasingly tense and shifting political terrain from illinois to washington, d. A masterwork by the preeminent historian of the civil. He responded to questions from members of the audience. Oct 02, 2019 eric foner, dewitt clinton professor emeritus of history, specializes in the civil war and reconstruction, slavery, and 19thcentury america.
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