Look for Dan Abrams and David Fisher’s new book, Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy, and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby.Instant New York Times bestseller!A Winner of the Barondess/Lincoln AwardA Washington Independent Review of Books Favorite Book of 2018A Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2018A Mental Floss Best Book of 2018A USA Today Top 10 Hot Book for Summer“Makes you feel as if you … 2018
A Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2018
A Mental Floss Best Book of 2018
A USA Today Top 10 Hot Book for Summer
“Makes you feel as if you are watching a live camera riveted on a courtroom more than 150 years ago.” —Diane Sawyer
The true story of Abraham Lincoln’s last murder trial, a case in which he had a deep personal involvement—and which played out in the nation’s newspapers as he began his presidential campaign
At the end of the summer of 1859, twenty-two-year-old Peachy Quinn Harrison went on trial for murder in Springfield, Illinois. Abraham Lincoln, who had been involved in more than three thousand cases—including more than twenty-five murder trials—during his two-decades-long career, was hired to defend him. This was to be his last great case as a lawyer.
What normally would have been a local case took on momentous meaning. Lincoln’s debates with Senator Stephen Douglas the previous fall had gained him a national following, transforming the little-known, self-taught lawyer into a respected politician. He was being urged to make a dark-horse run for the presidency in 1860. Taking this case involved great risk. His reputation was untarnished, but should he lose this trial, should Harrison be convicted of murder, the spotlight now focused so brightly on him might be dimmed. He had won his most recent murder trial with a daring and dramatic maneuver that had become a local legend, but another had ended with his client dangling from the end of a rope.
The case posed painful personal challenges for Lincoln. The murder victim had trained for the law in his office, and Lincoln had been his friend and his mentor. His accused killer, the young man Lincoln would defend, was the son of a close friend and loyal supporter. And to win this trial he would have to form an unholy allegiance with a longtime enemy, a revivalist preacher he had twice run against for political office—and who had bitterly slandered Lincoln as an “infidel…too lacking in faith” to be elected.
Lincoln’s Last Trial captures the presidential hopeful’s dramatic courtroom confrontations in vivid detail as he fights for his client—but also for his own blossoming political future. It is a moment in history that shines a light on our legal system, as in this case Lincoln fought a legal battle that remains incredibly relevant today.
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Read this while researching a novel I’m writing that’s set in the 1850s. Very interesting glimpse into the life of Lincoln just prior to him running for President. Very little politics in this book. Mainly showing how Lincoln practiced law and what the people in his hometown felt about him (very highly, for the most part). And the case itself was quite interesting.
Instead of reading “The Common Law” as I entered law school 60 years ago I wish “Lincoln’s Last Trial” was an alternative.
Picture of Lincoln I never thought of. Fascinating view of a man just before he became a legend, Well told and informative.
A wonderful book! Made me feel as though I was walking beside Lincoln and coming to know him as a real friend. My admiration for our former president has grown to new heights.
It is a modern crime legal story done `50 years ago. It gives you a flavor of criminal law in the US during this period. Part trial,part entertainment. These court room scenes spiced up the otherwise common and un exciting towns. Lincoln was considered among the best in the mid-west as lawyers go. Sometimes bogs down but a great read considering it is history.
Told me things about Lincoln that I didn’t know before.
I don’t know that I’ve ever listened to a historical non-fiction book practically non-stop. I have now. I was engrossed in the drama of Lincoln’s Last Trial. Well done!
It was a great trial story that happened to involve one of most important presidents just shortly before he broke onto the national scene. It was a personal look at the Lincoln we have come to appreciate, and showed his ability to get along with friend and foe.A good look at the 16th president “back when” he was just a good ol’ country lawyer.
Provided great insights into the personality and methods of Lincoln as well as the historical setting. It was well written and interesting; a skillful narrative that kept me reading.
Interesting and informative but I was somewhat disappointed. Yes it’s Lincoln’s words and his last murder trial but I guess I was expecting something more exciting with some brilliant cross examination. I still recommend. Could just be my take on it.
Reads almost like Lincoln is telling the story. Insights into the man, what contemporaries thought of him, of the law in mid 1800s, likewise culture, glimpses into relationship w Mary Todd Lincoln
I had my doubts about this book having seen and heard Abrams on ABC-TV often. However I was very pleased with the book. I am assuming that Abrams brought knowledge of law, legal history, and research into Lincoln as a lawyer; while the Fisher brought writing. If that is the case or not, the history provided this law knowledgeable Lincoln student a lot of new information. And the writing was good enough that I looked forward to getting back to the book when I wasn’t reading. A very interesting, enjoyable read!
I always look for books on Abraham Lincoln. This book covered an area of his life that I had not read about previously. It was a good read! I would recommend this book!
Interesting historical novel with detail account of Lincoln’s defense of young man’d life in a complicated trial. Highly recommend it to history buffs.
This is a great book. It is so well told, I felt like I was sitting in the gallery watching the trial unfold, from start to finish.
Great subject, strong decision to take advantage of the historical find and present it very nicely…
Reading books like this make me wonder why I never liked History in high school!
Very entertaining and educational
Well written. Interesting. We know how it ends but it is told quite well.
I enjoyed the book as an episode in the life of Lincoln. The author did not make the story seem particularly significant or worth writing about. In fact the story does not seem worth an entire book. The story is padded with a lot of apparent speculations about the thoughts and motivations of the characters involved in the story.