Preface

Kentucky childhood

Youth in Indiana

New Salem

The DeWitt Clinton of Illinois

Attorney and Counsellor at Law

Romance and marriage

Mr. Lincoln of Illinois

Leader of the Illinois bar

The house of eighth street

Rebirth in politics: 1854-1858

The great debates

"The taste is in my mouth a little": nomination, 1860

Candidate and president elect

The new president

The momentous issue

The war begins

Search for a general

Emancipation

Life in the White House

Gettysburg

Years of victory

The second election

Peace

Death

and a people's grief

Epilogue