Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship

From the author of Lincoln: A Photobiography, comes a clear-sighted, carefully researched account of two surprisingly parallel lives and how they intersected at a critical moment in U.S. history. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were both self-taught, both great readers and believers in the importance of literacy, both men born poor who by their own efforts reached positions of power and prominence—Lincoln as president of the United States and Douglass as the most famous and influential African American of his time. Though their meetings were few and brief, their exchange of ideas helped to end the Civil War, reunite the nation, and abolish slavery. Includes bibliography, source notes, and index. |

* “Freedman writes with clarity, intelligence, and a fine sense of detail . . . a well-researched, wonderfully readable book.”   —Booklist, starred review   * “A lucid and fascinating narrative that never sacrifices depth and intellectual rigor. . . . A marvel of history writing that makes complicated history clear and interesting.”   —Kirkus Reviews, starred review     “True to form, Freedman relies heavily on period illustrations and primary and secondary sources, breathing life into both men through a generous assortment of their own words.”   —Horn Book     “This book would be an asset for any classroom because it shows how two men set lasting examples of equality, integrity, and selflessness.”   —VOYA, 5Q 4P MJ     * “A first-rate volume for classroom study and general reading.”   —School Library Journal, starred review     * “Clear, accessible storytelling.”   —Publishers Weekly, starred review     “Freedman does not deviate an inch from his customary knack of selecting the precise details an adolescent reader will require to sort through complex issues and often conflicted personalities.”   —Bulletin