The Women In Lincoln's Life

Book excerpt: The tumultuous experiences Abraham Lincoln had with the women in his lifehave long been known, but here the stories have been brought together - andfilled out with newly discovered accounts - in a fresh, new way that shows theireffect on Lincoln's personality, ambition, and spirit: The death of his mother when he was nine years old gave him a feeling of abandonment. The discovery that his mother's ancestry and reputation were scandalous and that he may have been illegitimate. The unexpected death of his beloved sister, Sarah. The untimely death of Ann Rutledge, probably the only woman with whom Lincoln shared a deep, wonderful love. His sudden and unexpected marriage to Mary Todd, a marriage that was Lincoln's greatest tragedy. Not overlooked are the positive impacts of women on Lincoln and he on them,especially his stepmother - the first person to treat him with respect. Thisin-depth book reveals the effect that women had on Abraham Lincoln's life andcareer.