Thank you to Libro FM for an audio arc of Jon Meacham’s And There was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle.
Historian and journalist Jon Meacham does a deep-dive into the life of the sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Meacham details how a man of humble beginnings was able to make inroads with power circles, including marrying the upper-class Mary Todd Lincoln, and gaining the esteem of important people to boost his political aspirations.
And There is Light is an absolutely fascinating presidential biography. Prior to reading Meacham’s work, I knew a fair bit about Lincoln. I think most American’s do, as we spend a lot of time learning about the Civil War in school. However, I think the timing of this book is very relevant, as there are clear parallels to the state of the country during Lincoln’s time and our present situation. Lincoln’s greatest presidential challenge was to try to bring together a country divided on ideological lines and even more so, after the war had ended.
We may be at a precipice right now. I actually listened to this book months ago and have not had time to write the review. I didn’t even realize, until typing this paragraph, that former President Trump is hours away from his arraignment in Florida. This is historic, yet also deepening the divide. And There was Light made me consider how we move forward after a major event, such as the Civil War, when tensions are still high and people still don’t agree. Is it even possible?
I had not previously known about Mary Todd Lincoln’s heath struggles, especially with mental health. The intimate details about Lincoln’s family life added an interesting layer to the biography. And There was Light is a well-rounded portrait of a man, who just happened to go on to make history. I recommend this for anyone interested in presidential biographies or American History.