Lincoln Through the Lens: How Photography Revealed and Shaped an Extraordinary Life
Starred Review. Grade 5 Up—Part history of early photography, part Lincoln biography, and part documentation of the period, this slim book speaks volumes in both words and pictures. Each spread is a self-contained "chapter." The first few provide an overview of Lincoln's life and the role that photography would play in his career. Subsequent spreads are arranged chronologically. The verso begins with a heading and a highlighted Lincoln quote, followed by a page of engaging, insightful text with a small insert photo or reproduction. Captions for both the insert and the facing full-page image appear at the bottom of the page. The generously sized photographs reveal Lincoln at different stages of his political career as well as on the battlefield; his family; and key figures such as Stephen A. Douglas, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and John Wilkes Booth. Historical drawings and paintings, broadsides, and cartoons are also included. The text not only offers a fascinating updated history on the eve of the bicentennial, but also includes many colorful anecdotes and quotes about the mischievous Lincoln boys, Lincoln's beard, and Thanksgiving. This appealing, accessible title will be savored from beginning to end.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public SchoolsCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.