My longtime treasured friend the late Arthur Schlesinger Jr. has placed me in his debt by asking me to write this book about my presidential hero, Abraham Lincoln. I wish that I could have borrowed Arthur’s magic pen to do the writing.
Paul Golob of Times Books/Henry Holt has patiently, critically, and helpfully kept me on a steady course from the prologue to the final line. I also deeply appreciate the superb work of the copy editor, Emily DeHuff.
Professor Sean Wilentz of Princeton University, one of America’s rising stars in the study and writing of history, has been an ideal replacement for Arthur as the general editor.
I’m deeply indebted to the Montana Lincoln scholar Larry Mansch for his assistance in both the research and the composition of the book.
I would also like to thank the reference staff at the National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature for their assistance in helping me complete the endnotes.