The Backwoods Boy; or, The Boyhood and Manhood of Abraham Lincoln

The narrative traces Abraham Lincoln's life from a frontier log-cabin childhood through informal schooling, early manual labor, self-education, and legal apprenticeship into local and national politics. It recounts family episodes and everyday anecdotes that illustrate his honesty, industry, and compassion; outlines his courtroom work, legislative service, and political campaigns; and follows his wartime leadership as president. The account considers his moral and religious reflections, the steps toward emancipation, selections of public speeches and personal incidents, and contemporary appraisals, closing with his re-election, a famous battlefield address, his assassination, and reflections on his character.