Abraham Lincoln: The War Years

In Sandburg's monumental biography of the 16th president, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: THE WAR YEARS (4 volumes) follows ABRAHAM LINCOLN: THE PRAIRIE YEARS (2 volumes).

"A great day," wrote Longfellow on New Year's Day of 1863. "The President's Proclamation for Emancipation of Slaves in the rebel States goes into effect. A beautiful day, full of sunshine, ending in a tranquil moonlight night. May it be symbolical."

Volume II of THE WAR YEARS begins with Lincoln's titanic proclamation and ends in 1864 amidst presidential election politics and Lincoln's bid for re-election.