Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[Gene C]

(06-26-2014 08:23 PM)Lewis Gannett Wrote:  However--this might come as a bit of a surprise--I don't care very much about whether or not Lincoln was "gay." It's interesting, and important in some ways, but it's not my focus. I'm much more interested in why, in academia, especially in top-tier academia, interpretation flip-flops happen. For example, why did Lincoln Studies reverse itself on the Rutledge story? I find that kind of question enormously interesting. It's the subject of my next book.

It's a surprise in one sense, it's a bunch of hogwash. Which isn't a surprise, it's a pattern.

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(06-24-2014 12:06 AM)Lewis Gannett Wrote:  In short, Herndon grew up with first-hand knowledge of Lincoln's life in New Salem. Why then had Herndon never heard of Lincoln's love for Ann and his extreme distress when she died? I'm writing a book that will discuss that question. I'd be happy to talk about it here, but for now will close with this: Herndon's "great discovery" about Lincoln's tragic love affair looks mighty funny from the very beginning. It's worth keeping in mind that New Salem was a tiny village, and nearby Springfield was a dusty little market town. Gossip moves fast in such locales. Why did it take Herndon thirty years to learn about a pivotal episode in his hero's youth? Yes, it's true that John Hill in 1862 published a story in the Menard Axis about Lincoln falling desperately in love with a fair maiden who tragically died, which plunged Lincoln into such despair that it alarmed his friends. And it's true that several New Salem oldtimers told Herndon that Lincoln collapsed after Ann died. But somehow, Herndon never before had heard these stories. Well, what of it? Maybe he just wasn't paying attention or something. No, that simply doesn't wash. Something else was going on. Suffice it to say: devious Herndon. At the risk of seeming immodest I'll point out that, to my knowledge, this particular angle on the genesis of the Ann Rutledge story makes its public debut here.

That's not the subject for your book that you emphasized on another thread

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(06-24-2014 04:33 PM)Lewis Gannett Wrote:  I also think that Herndon wanted to dilute the fact that Lincoln was highly "sex-minded." Why? Herndon felt duty-bound to protect Lincoln from charges that he found sexual & romantic fulfillment with men. What better way to tamp down discussion of THAT hair-raising idea than to portray Lincoln as indifferent to sexual romance in general? If this is what Herndon set out to do--I'm 97% sure that it was--he succeeded brilliantly.

If you don't care if Lincoln is gay, why is it that this has been the major theme of several of you most recent posts, and it's the foundation of the book your writing? Without it, you don't have a story. Actually, that's all you have, a story and it's not a very good one either.

Consider this idea - Herndon felt duty-bound to protect Lincoln from charges that he was a vampire & he found fulfillment in drinking blood. What better way to tamp down discussion of THAT hair-raising idea than to portray Lincoln as indifferent in general? If this is what you have Herndon set out to do -- I'm 97% sure you will succeed brilliantly.