The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution [Paperback]

Finalist for the 2022 Lincoln Prize With this superb book, Oakes opens the way for a thorough retelling of the nations history from the American Revolution to the Civil War. Eleanor Roosevelt used to say, If you must compromise, compromise up. The champion compromiser up was Lincoln, as Oakes proves, avoiding the simple views of him as just opportunist or just emancipator. He knew where he was going, even when he had to obscure the goal. A diamond of historical scholarship, with deep research and understanding shining brilliantly in every facet. With crisp and lucid prose, Oakes provides a map that guides the reader through the zigs and zags of the path to freedom. Brilliant&A landmark contribution. On Lincoln, on the Civil War, on slaverys downfall, on constitutional changethis is an indispensable book. No other scholar has shed more light on Lincolns way of dealing with slavery. Cogently argued, by one of our foremost historians of emancipation. I read this remarkable book with pleasure and admiration. Oakes writes like a dream.