As President, Abraham Lincoln endowed the American language with a vigour and moral energy that have all but disappeared from today's rhetoric. Lincoln's writings are testaments to our history, as well as windows into his enigmatic personality. This book contains Lincoln's speeches along with less familiar letters, charting Lincoln's political career, his stand against slavery and the day-to-day running of the Civil War. The book also includes an introduction, detailed chapter notes and a chronology of Lincoln's life.