If you’ve never explored Lincoln from an abolitionist viewpoint you must read Fred Kaplan’s treatment. I found he explored the political terrain leading up to the Civil War in a very even handed manner revealing the motivating engine relentlessly driving the nation on to inevitable war. A very even handed treatment of Lincoln, neither vilifying or defying but rather honoring our president by seeing him as he was. We must see history in this way to understand that we too are blinded captives to our own times, and in seeing this to attain a closer approximation to truth and justice. I have never read a Lincoln book that did a better job of drawing me into the thoughts and motivations of the participants on the stage of pre civil war history. Take the time to read this book. You will understand your own times in a new light.