Wrestling With His Angel

The “magisterial” ( The New York Times Book Review ) second volume of Sidney Blumenthal’s acclaimed, landmark biography, The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln , reveals the future president’s genius during the most decisive period of his political life when he seizes the moment, finds his voice, and helps create a new political party. In 1849, Abraham Lincoln seems condemned to political isolation and defeat. His Whig Party is broken in the 1852 election, and disintegrates. His perennial rival,