Winner of the Francis Parkman Prize of the Society of American Historians
For the quarter-century before 1860 Stephen A. Douglas was a dominant
figure on the American political scene, far outshadowing Abraham Lincoln.
This first paperback printing of Robert Johannsen's authoritative biography
features a new preface.
"At once a work of enormous scholarship and of deep insight. Here,
for the first time, is the full story of a great career, told with such
skill that we can now understand why Abraham Lincoln found the 'Little
Giant' the most formidable political rival he ever faced." -- David
H. Donald, author of Lincoln and two-time winner of the Pulitzer
Prize
"Well-organized and marvelously detailed. . . . The book demonstrates
the virtues of large-scale, straightforward narrative biography at its
best. Its completeness and objectivity will make it the standard authority
for many years to come." -- Richard N. Current, The New York Times
Book Review
"Superb. . . . Will doubtless stand as the definitive biography
of Stephen A. Douglas for this generation." -- Hans L. Trefousse,
The Journal of American History
"An impressive work--impressive in scope, in research, and in maturity
of understanding. . . . Johannsen has constructed a biography that is
rich in detail and full of conviction." -- James Z. Rabun, The
Journal of Southern History
"Should take its place in the tradition of magisterial biographies
. . . in which so much of the best writing on American history is to be
found." -- Harry V. Jaffa, National Review
"The research is amazingly exhaustive and the writing is unusually
readable. . . . Outstanding biography of a quality not often matched."
-- LeRoy H. Fischer, Manuscripta
Supported by the Dickerson Fund of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
