With an Introduction by Harold Holzer

The folklore surrounding history's towering figures often overshadows actual scholarship, both in terms of quantity and in terms of prevalence in the public consciousness. As one might expect with a revered national icon, nearly every facet of Abraham Lincoln's life has been subject to mythmaking as well as academic inquiry of widely varying quality and accuracy.

In Lincoln Legends, noted historian and Lincoln expert Edward Steers Jr. carefully scrutinizes some of the most notorious tall tales and distorted ideas about America's sixteenth President. Did Abraham Lincoln write his greatest speech on the back of an envelope on the way to Gettysburg? Did he appear before a congressional committee to defend his wife against charges of treason? Was Lincoln an illegitimate child? Was he gay? Edward Steers weighs the evidence in these and other heated debates about the Great Emancipator. Steers's conclusions will satisfy some and disappoint others, and he just might settle some of these enduring questions once and for all.

Edward Steers Jr. is the author of several books, including Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln and The Trial: The Assassination of President Lincoln and the Trial of the Conspriators. He appears frequently as a Lincoln expert on C-Span and the History Channel.

Reviews:

Lincoln Legends is a worthy addition to the library of anyone interested in learning the truth about Lincoln and his heritage." -Jerry Holsworth, Civil War Times

"A premier Lincoln historian offers an interesting, penetrating look into the fascinating nonsense (both accidental and intentional) that has confused Americans' understanding of one of our national folk gods." -History Book Club

"The Steers book is an invaluable contribution to Lincoln literature. It debunks the false histories written about Lincoln even in our own times. Anyone interested in Lincoln will surely enjoy this new volume on Honest Abe." -Greg Lennes, Sun-News

"Lincoln Legends is a well-researched and documented analysis of the stories that have become a part of the image that Americans have chosen to believe about their most beloved and respected leader...This book reflects favorably on the journey of a wonderful history detective and will be enjoyed and referenced by all who are interested in the story of Abraham Lincoln." -Journal of Illinois History, Charles M. Hubbard

"Steers tries, once and for all, to separate Lincoln fact from fiction. It is not an easy task." -Chris Collins, Lexington Herald-Leader

"For those wanting answers about Lincoln, this is a fine volume. Leaving humor to the fun front cover, the contents are at once deferential to those seeking basic information and probing about deeper layers of the president's life. A solid offering displaying expert research." -Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal

"Steers evaluates the evidence on all sides of the many heated debates about Lincoln, weighing all of the relevant arguments and interpretations in addition to tracing the fascinating evolution of many of the more flawed theories about the president. The result is as close to the truth as we are likely to get. This is fascinating reading that brims with insight and debunking." -Tuscon Citizen

"A fine volume. Leaving humor to the fun front cover, the contents are at once deferential to those seeking basic information and probing about deeper layers of the president's life." -Library Journal (* starred review)

"A prodigiously researched history of a provocative subject." -Booklist

"Noted Lincoln scholar Steers succinctly and eloquently debunks 14 popular myths about the Great Emancipator's life and death." -Publishers Weekly

"With the knowledge gained from more than 20 years of study, Steers separates the facts from the considerable amount of fiction that persists about Lincoln's life and death." -Kentucky Monthly

"Ed Steers' delightful romp through the myths, whacking them down one-by-one, is funny and instructive all at the same moment. Once you've watched Steers crunch down on such horse-chestnuts as the 'martyrdom' of Samuel Mudd, the 'escape' of John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's sexuality and illegitimacy and paternity, your view of Lincoln will never the be the same--and it's a good thing" -Allen C. Guelzo, Henry R. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era & Director, Civil War Era Studies, Gettysburg College

"Brilliantly arranged & one of the most informative Lincoln books ever written. A captivating and informative book that belongs on the bookshelf of every lover of history" -Joseph Garrera, President, The Lincoln Group of New York

"Steers takes many widely held views about Abraham Lincoln and places them under the microscope to see if all the supporting evidence holds up under scrutiny. These are the very stories that have wide circulation because academic historians tend to dismiss them rather than confront them. As a result, the stories become adopted by the public, lacking any serious vocal debunking by experts in the field. Lincoln Legends serves as a very useful corrective to many of these 'myths' about Lincoln." -Thomas F. Schwartz, Illinois State Historian, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

"With the acuity of the scientist he is, Ed Steers Jr. searches for the truth about many of the stories relating to Abraham Lincoln. And he discovers it to--in subjects ranging from the genesis of the Gettysburg Address; whether the President appeared before the Committee on the Conduct of the War to defend his wife, Mary; to the legitimacy of his birth. Was Lincoln gay? Did his secretary, John Hay, really write the "Bixby Letter" to the Boston widow who purportedly lost five sons in combat? These and more fascinating tales are discussed in a beautiful and succinct style that is not only a credit to the author but to the study of our greatest President." -Frank J. Williams, founding Chair of the Lincoln Forum

"An enlightening look at the myths and outright lies that have both glorified and slandered the sixteenth president. Reading it is like seeing a deifying marble statue of the Great Emancipator, one that had suffered vandalism, slowly come to life, step down from its pedestal, and allow us to meet an unassuming but great man." -Joe Nickell, author of Unsolved History: Investigating Mysteries of the Past

"An entertaining look at the fascinating nonsense that surrounds Honest Abe." -History Book Club Catalog

"Very entertaining and easy to understand. . . This is a book that will debunk a lot of the myths that have been built up, through the years, about Abraham Lincoln." -The Lone Star

"Readers will be fascinated by the variety of tales told about Lincoln's life and death."-Indiana Magazine of History

"The greatest favor a parent could do for a school-aged child with an interest in history is to buy a copy of this book and give it to their child's history or social studies teacher."-Blue and Gray Magazine

"Steers writes in an engaging style, and this book is highly recommended. It reminds readers that sensational headlines appear on the front page of newspapers while corrections and retractions are placed where few people will read them, allowing the erroneous report to become ingrained in the public mind."-Thomas R. Turner, The Historian