Merrill Peterson provides a fascinating history of Lincoln's place in American thought and imagination from the hour of his death to present. In tracing the changing image of Lincoln through time, this wide-ranging account offers insight into the evolution and struggles of American politics and society.

Historian Peterson provides a fascinating history of Lincoln's place in the American thought and imagination from the hour of his death to the present. In tracing the changing image of Lincoln through time, this wide-ranging account offers insight into the evolution and struggles of American politics and society.

'Merrill Peterson gives a splendid account of how Lincoln has been used and abused during the past 129 years ... Mr Peterson does a remarkable job of covering the most important developments, and he manages to deliver a flavour of the rest ... this is a book that needed to be written and certainly deserves to be read.' The Economist