The Lincoln No One Knows

[Gene C]

I did not care for this book

Written by Webb Garrison in 1993, about 270 pages.
Decent bibliography, but no footnotes.
To me, an unpardonable error for one who served as an associate dean of Emory University, president of McKendree College, and a freelance writer who specializes in American history, according to the book cover. Perhaps it was an intentional error.

Much of what Mr. Garrison writes is not clearly documented and taken out of context to it's historical background. Mr. Garrison tries to show Lincoln's inconsistency between what he says and does, he is somewhat like Bill O'Reilly in how he presents his information by treating speculation and unreliable statements as accepted fact, only he is not as interesting of a story teller.

He has the usually wrong comments about Abraham'rs reasons for marrying Mary, leaning on Herndon's writing to justify his conclusion. Garrison writes,
"Therefore this self-educated man and impoverished attorney married a highly educated patrician in order to foster his political fortunes"

Repeats, but does not dispute, Herndon's conclusion that Thomas was not Abraham's biological father.

In one chapter titled 'A Counsel For a Slaveholder', he uses the word "perhaps" and "it is possible" 5 times in one paragraph.
"Perhaps attorney Abraham Lincoln felt obligated to represent anyone who requested his help, or perhaps he may have been more interested in collecting his fees than in defending his principles. Although he had spoken against slavery, it is possible his views and actions at this time had not yet matured. It is also possible that as an attorney, he believed in finding and obeying the letter of the law, whether or not he agreed with it. Or perhaps, knowing that the case would be sensational, he couldn't refrain from getting involved for the sake of publicity."

An example of more of this is in the chapter 'Emancipation - The Burning Issue of the Day?' Garrison writes
"Was the mystic who was born in obscurity angry during this period? His surviving letters and papers give no clue. Perhaps he fumed and stormed, saying things his discreet secretary's did not record. Maybe he bit his tongue and bided his time, eagerly watching for a sign or an omen that would reveal to him - if to no one else - what course Providence directed him to take"

Fortunately I only wasted a $1 on this purchase from our local library book sale. I understand why they wanted to get rid of it.