5 comments about Case of Abraham Lincoln.

1. While the title is a bit deceptive (the legal case doesn't figure as much as it would suggest), this is still a well-written book on a pivotal year in Lincoln's life. Ms. Fenster brings out quite a bit of information I'd never known and paints an engaging picture of life in Lincoln's Springfield. This is an enjoyable book that history buffs and Lincoln fans will enjoy equally.



2. Julie M. Fenster is the author of five previous books, including an award-winning history of anesthesia called "Ether: The Strange Tale of America's Greatest Medical Discovery and the Haunted Men Who Made It." She's a regular contributor to American Heritage, as well as other well-respected popular magazines and academic journals.
   
   In "The Case of Abraham Lincoln," Fenster delivers a revealing portrait of Abraham Lincoln both before -- and during -- his rise to political power in the mid-1850s. She uses a famous antebellum murder trial as a fascinating subplot to propel the narrative forward. It's a delightful mixture of biography and scandal that piqued my interest from start to finish.
   
   When we meet Lincoln, he is a successful but frustrated provincial lawyer who makes friends easily but avoids taking strong political stands. The personal details about his every day life are utterly fascinating, given the normal "mythology" that surrounds Lincoln today. For example, we see Lincoln laying on the floor of his parlor, playing with his cats or shutting down the law office in mid-afternoon to play "town ball" (an early form of baseball) with the young store clerks from downstairs.
   
   Throughout the book, Fenster strikes just the right balance between the intimate details of daily life and the earth-shaking events reshaping the national political scene during the run-up to the 1856 election. On one hand, we have a salacious local murder case. On the other hand, we witness the creation of an entirely new political party committed to halting the spread of slavery in the West. Lincoln was thrust into both crucibles at once -- almost by accident. The ultimate result was the greatest president our nation has ever known. (Those who enjoy debating cause and effect in history will find plenty to talk about here.)
   
   "The Case of Abraham Lincoln" belongs to the same new genre of books that I call "Prismatic History." A prism takes a single beam of white light and splits it into its component colors so we can gain a deeper understanding of what lies beneath the seemingly simple facade.
   
   In the same way, Prismatic History starts with a small slice of time (e.g., the year 1856) or a small incident (e.g., a Midwestern family murder). It then reveals the much greater complexity and historical importance that lie just beneath the surface. Other books in this genre include "The Devil in the White City," (about the 1893 Chicago World's Fair) "Isaac's Storm," (about the Galveston hurricane) and "Will in the World" (about the formative years of Shakespeare).
   
   CAUTION: If you're looking for an exhaustive academic history of Lincoln's early law career, or a comprehensive study of antebellum politics, you won't find it here. But if you like a good historical yarn with a fresh perspective and revealing details, you'll love "The Case for Abraham Lincoln." Bravo, Ms. Fenster!
   
   Full Disclosure: I wrote my honor's thesis in history at Brown University about the rise of anti-slavery activism in a small Michigan city during the 1840s and 1850s. (The Republican Party held its first meeting in Jackson, Michigan, in 1854. Oh, what a long, strange trip it's been since then, Mr. McCain.)



3. When I bought this book, I wanted so much to like it. The author is from Upstate New York (where I am from originally) and the book purports to be about Lincoln and his representation of a client charged with murder. However, come to find out that Lincoln's involvement in this homicide case was merely peripheral. In fact, as another reviewer pointed out, Mr. Lincoln first gets involved in the case around page 200. Unfortunately, the publisher's marketing department knew that a sub-title of "The Story of Adultery, Murder, and the Making of a Great President" would sell more then "Lincoln, The Know-Nothings and the Anti-Nebraska Party." When Ms. Fenster describes the details involving the murder and the subsequent legal proceedings, the narrative flow is very smooth, but without any break in the narrative, she then goes on to discuss a minor will settlement that Lincoln handled. This made for a very difficult read, especially when the reader thinks Ms. Fenster is going to write about the murder trial, but instead interminably goes on about the birth of the Republican Party in Illinois. However, overall a good micro-study of not only Mr. Lincoln, but also the burgeoning state of Illinois in mid-19th century America.



4. I bought this book as a gift for my husband who is interested in Lincoln, the law, and political science. He found the book to be informative, entertaining, and well-written.



5. The "Case of Abraham Lincoln" is a well written book, interesting, informative and fun to read. Anyone intersted in Abraham Lincoln, the history of the 1850's, politics or human nature will benefit from this reading.

No comments about J. V. Barry: A Life.

1 comments about Attorney for the Damned (A Touchstone book).

1. The 'Forward' by Justice William O. Douglas says this book contains addresses delivered to juries in criminal cases, and speeches on controversial subjects. Darrow opposed bigotry, prejudice, ignorance, and hate. He was always fighting for equal protection, due process, and a fair trial. Darrow trusted juries more than judges to protect the life and liberty of the citizen. He was also a champion of labor when unions were often regarded as illegal, and suffered from government by injunction.
   
   The 'Introduction' by Arthur Weinberg says Darrow was an orator who played on the emotions of his listeners. But people acted mainly through emotions. Darrow's pleas always had a powerful rational basis. He also defended many causes that were unpopular at the time. Clarence Darrow was a corporate lawyer until he became an attorney for the American Railway Union and its president Eugene Victor Debs. Was it a matter of conscience (p.xxx)? This book contains an edited selection of Darrow's speeches, giving the background and the aftermath.
   
   "Crime and Criminals" has his speech to the prisoners in the Cook County jail. Darrow contrasts the acts of the convicts to the actions of the monopolists (gas, trolley, oil). Advertisements in the newspapers are all lies. More people go to jail in hard times than in good times. Most people who go to jail are poor; they can't afford a good lawyer. There is a correlation between increased poverty and increased crime. Darrow suggests crime is a natural phenomenon, like cattle seeking a better pasture. Having a good lawyer is more important than guilt or innocence! Laws exist to protect the ruling class, not to do justice. Darrow suggests that living where there is plenty of land and a chance to make a living would result in no crime (p.14).
   
   Although Darrow was involved in many famous trials, he may be best remembered for the Scopes Evolution Case. Thomas Scopes discussed evolution in his high-school class to challenge a new Tennessee law. The publicity made Dayton famous. The famous William Jennings Bryan, a fundamentalist, advocated these laws and volunteered to help the prosecution. [If this is all you know of Bryan, please learn more.] Darrow examined Bryan on a question of law, the jury was not present. The next day this testimony was stricken from the record. The jury found Scopes guilty. On appeal the Tennessee Supreme Court reversed this, and dismissed the case. The Tennessee constitution banned state support of a religion. Most teachers today are still controlled by state laws as to what they can teach.
   
   In the aftermath of the trial of the McNamara brothers for bombing the Los Angeles Times Building in 1911, Darrow was accused of attempting to bribe a juror. Darrow's investigators were double agents who offered a bribe, and claimed Darrow did it. Such agent provocateurs are found in movements like labor unions. Darrow said the State had put spies and informers into his defense team. and the LA police admitted so (p.504). The man who offered bribes admitted Darrow knew nothing (p.505)! Darrow pointed out that no one's life or liberty would be safe if they could be framed-up for a crime (p.507). Darrow would get a deal if he framed-up Samuel Gompers (p.510)! The plots against Darrow show evidence of the frame-up (p.516). Darrow decided to take a plea bargain for the McNamaras before any bribes were offered (p.522)! The jury quickly found Darrow 'not guilty' (p.531). Adele Rogers St. John's "Final Verdict" provides another view of this trial. Nearby, a young Erle Stanley Gardner was beginning his legal career. Was the angel in the film "Its a Wonderful Life" named to commemorate the recently deceased Clarence Darrow?

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