Mr. Lincoln's Wars: A Novel in Thirteen Stories

By Adam Braver

Book Overview

In this highly ambitious collection, Adam Braver explores Abraham Lincoln's inner life and personal turmoils -- while also reflecting on the indelible impact Lincoln had on the nation during the last year of his presidency. Braver brings the president to life, not just as the strong and resilient leader of history books but also as a grief-stricken father, heartbroken over the loss of his young son. Across a rich canvas of truth and imagination, Mr. Lincoln's Wars reveals a president within the White House walls. We see Lincoln as he explores the meaning of loss through a chance encounter with the father of a slain soldier. And a good-hearted young Union soldier is quickly turned into a killer in the name of President Lincoln. Finally, there is the assassination and the autopsy, as seen through the eyes of John Wilkes Booth, Mary Lincoln, the assistant surgeon general, and one of Lincoln's closest friends. Brilliant in its depiction of the country during the waning days of the war, this book is an insightful and moving exploration of the myth of celebrity and the passions it arouses. More than anything, Mr. Lincoln's Wars introduces a talented new writer whose storytelling ability knows no bounds.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060081198
• ISBN13: 9780060081195
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.7" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Eloquent and Brilliant Novel

This was quite possibly the most brilliantly written book I have ever read. From the moment I bought it and began reading, I was hard pressed to put it down. It is a collection of thirteen stories, written from different points of view: Lincoln himself, Mary Todd, and other Americans whose lives were touched in some way by Lincoln. Adam Braver does not sugar coat anything and takes risks. He was not afraid to show the harsh reality of the time period to his readers. He took one of history's most fascinating men and questioned what he must have gone through being the leader of a country, still just a toddler in it's development, that was trying to tear itself apart. How does a man deal with that on his conscience? These are the types of things Braver explores through his fiction. These are emotions and thoughts and experiences none of us can possibly know or understand as they truly occured. A novel like this could not be nonfiction. People looking for a 100% historically accurate account on the life of Abraham Lincoln may be disappointed. But people who will embrace this incredibly fresh and brilliant writing voice, and are curious about the trials this truly unique and amazing man went through will be blessed forever with the possession of this novel. Anyone not willing to face the "seething hell" (Walt Whitman) of this time period should not read this book. It's not light-hearted to say the least. But it explores Abraham Lincoln, how he became what he was and how he dealt with his world...his wars. I eagerly await the second novel of this truly gifted author. And I congratulate him for having the courage to take on such an incredible topic for his first publication.

An Excellent Read!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Mr. Lincoln's Wars'. Adam Braver has depicted the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, and those around him, in a refreshing collection of short stories. The author's writing style is engaging and I eagerly look forward to the release of his second book.

Quite Moving

"Mr. Lincoln's Wars" is one of the most moving books I have read to date. It shows Lincoln and the world around him in its most metaphorical sense -- a world haunted by sadness, confusion, and the human will to persevere. The stories revolving around Lincoln are often sadly poignant, showing the president at his most introspective. The book is also complemented by stories that show ordinary people and thier relationships to the "idea" of Lincoln. These stories make for a stark contrast to the world of Lincoln that is presented to us -- showing us the humanity in all people. I suspect that detractors may be missing the point: "Mr. Lincoln's Wars" is not a book for "learning" something new about Abraham Lincoln, instead it is about seeing the humanity of the confusing world that we still live in.

Brilliant Masterpiece

I loved this book! I loved how it managed to present the historic theme as contemporary literature. It takes you right into a world that is as familiar as the one we are living in. I devoured it in two hours on a six-hour flight.

Lincoln's humanity shines

These 13 connecting stories powerfully explore President Lincoln's humanity as he deals with his son's death, his wife's madness, and his personal agony over lives lost in the Civil War. Beautifully written historical fiction.