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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You didn’t know that Abraham Lincoln was the defense lawyer in a notorious murder case on the eve of his presidency? Neither did I. But Dan Abrams and David Fisher tell the remarkable tale in Lincoln’s Last Trial, and the story is both compelling on its own terms and a lesson about some eternal truths about criminal justice.
We all know the story of Abraham Lincoln the wartime president, the defender of the Union, and the emancipator of the slaves. But Abraham Lincoln, the defense lawyer? Dan Abrams and David Fisher recount the engaging story of Lincoln’s last trial, occurring on the cusp of the Civil War. An entertaining book filled with twists and turns and tailor-made for Civil War buffs.
Dan Abrams and David Fisher write the heart-pounding pulse of history. Abraham Lincoln: the dusty shoes, the weary eyes, the Jedi mastery of a jury in a true case of life and death. So pull up a chair. This book not only brings a rare transcript to life, it makes you feel as if you are watching a live camera riveted on a courtroom more than 150 years ago.
Lincoln’s wartime leadership overshadows his life as a lawyer. But you can’t understand one without the other. In this rich and previously unexplored corner of history, the authors take you inside the courtroom to watch Abraham Lincoln — at the height of his powers as a lawyer and on the edge of eternal fame — as he tries a thrilling murder trial to a jury.
Lincoln’s last trial before becoming President. Local boy on trial for murder . Informative and easy to read
I could not believe I bought another book about Lincoln, but I’m glad I did. A new perspective on Lincoln the lawyer. Informative and well written
This was a fascinating book that was both entertaining and original. It revealed extensive research by the author, and was based on an original transcript of Lincoln’s last trial before he campaigned for and won the presidency.
It may have been his last trial, but it almost certainly didn’t make him President.
The book became rather tedious to plow thru, but it had some depth.
The writer has to weave some interpretive description of the characters action into the storyline, but the recordings of speech are real and interesting. At times I struggled to follow who was who, but that didn’t detract from the interesting details of a courtroom scene from yesteryear. Worth reading if you’re interested in Lincoln, Douglas and other prominent figures who spared against,and then again, supported one another
Great book about Lincoln’s last trial. Well written just like you were there back I’m time. I enjoyed Learning about Lincoln the Lawyer.
I love just about anything about Lincoln but not this book. I don’t know why but I found it boring and couldn’t finish it. Was surprised to see it on the NYT best seller list
Interesting story kick started by locating a trial transcript when such records were not typical.
Excellent book. Brings a view of an important historical person that is compelling. This could have been a very boring book if written in a different way, but with these authors, it comes alive and is not the least bit tiresome.
I’m extremely glad that this title was recommended to me.
Not very good
A great book full of interesting facts about our early judicial system. I would certainly recommend this book.
New info about #16. No note taking, who knew? Brilliant man.
I am currently still reading the book and am finding it very interesting.
A very interesting insight to Lincoln’s being a defense lawyer for an accused murderer. The only negative I felt was there was too much wandering from the court account, centering on many facts about Lincoln and what was happening around him during this time. Although very informative it took away from the historical story of the titled book
Great mix of history, politics, and courtroom drama.