The Last Best Hope of Earth: Abraham Lincoln and the Promise of America

Created in conjunction with one of the largest and most comprehensive exhibitions ever devoted to the life and achievements of Abraham Lincoln, this 80-page catalogue delves into Lincoln’s struggle to ensure the survival of the American experiment in democracy. The book emphasizes his role as a war president. It also details Lincoln’s determination to tackle the crucial issue of his time, slavery, and the profound effect this had on his life, and consequently, on the history of the United States.The book examines the many roles Lincoln assumed during his lifetime, from lawyer, to president, to father. The importance of his debates with Stephen Douglas, the nature of his military leadership, and family life in the Lincoln White House are discussed in individual chapters.Accompanying the text are more than 70 illustrations of the items that were on display from the three contributing collections, the Huntington Library, the Illinois State Historical Library, and the Louise and Barry Taper Collection. The illustrations range from autographed Lincoln documents to such personal items as his famous stove pipe hat and the gloves he was wearing the night of his assassination. The catalogue includes an exhibition checklist and a bibliography. The publication of the catalogue was made possible by the generous support of Nestle, USA.