Lincolnâs incredible ascent to power in a world of chaos is newly revealed in this âcompelling, original, and elegantly writtenâ (Michael Beschloss, New York Times bestselling author) third volume of the âmagisterialâ (The New York Times Book Review) Political Life of Abraham Lincoln series, following A Self-Made Man and Wrestling with His Angel.
After a period of depression that he would ever find his way to greatness, Lincoln takes on the most powerful demagogue in the country, Stephen Douglas, in the debates for a senate seat. He sidelines the frontrunner William Seward, a former governor and senator for New York, to cinch the new Republican Partyâs nomination.
All the Powers of Earth is the political story of all time. Lincoln achieves the presidency by force of strategy, of political savvy and determination. This is Abraham Lincoln, who indisputably becomes the greatest president and moral leader in the nationâs history. But he must first build a new political party, brilliantly state the anti-slavery case and overcome shattering defeat to win the presidency. In the years of civil war to follow, he will show mightily that the nation was right to bet on him. He was its preserver, a politician of moral integrity.
All the Powers of Earth is âas essential as any political biography is likely to beâ and Sidney Bluementhal is âthe definitive chronicler of Lincolnâs political careerâ (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).