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Eric Foner
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The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery First Edition

by Eric Foner (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 673 ratings
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Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in History, the Bancroft Prize, and the Lincoln Prize: from a master historian, the story of Lincoln's―and the nation's―transformation through the crucible of slavery and emancipation.

In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, Eric Foner gives us the definitive history of Lincoln and the end of slavery in America. Foner begins with Lincoln's youth in Indiana and Illinois and follows the trajectory of his career across an increasingly tense and shifting political terrain from Illinois to Washington, D.C. Although “naturally anti-slavery” for as long as he can remember, Lincoln scrupulously holds to the position that the Constitution protects the institution in the original slave states. But the political landscape is transformed in 1854 when the Kansas-Nebraska Act makes the expansion of slavery a national issue.

A man of considered words and deliberate actions, Lincoln navigates the dynamic politics deftly, taking measured steps, often along a path forged by abolitionists and radicals in his party. Lincoln rises to leadership in the new Republican Party by calibrating his politics to the broadest possible antislavery coalition. As president of a divided nation and commander in chief at war, displaying a similar compound of pragmatism and principle, Lincoln finally embraces what he calls the Civil War's “fundamental and astounding” result: the immediate, uncompensated abolition of slavery and recognition of blacks as American citizens.

Foner's Lincoln emerges as a leader, one whose greatness lies in his capacity for moral and political growth through real engagement with allies and critics alike. This powerful work will transform our understanding of the nation's greatest president and the issue that mattered most. 16 pages black-and-white illustrations and 3 maps
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  1. ISBN-10
    0393066185
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0393066180
  3. Edition
    First Edition
  4. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  5. Publication date
    October 4, 2010
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6.4 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
  8. Print length
    448 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A mixture of visionary progressivism and repugnant racism, Abraham Lincoln's attitude toward slavery is the most troubling aspect of his public life, one that gets a probing assessment in this study. Columbia historian and Bancroft Prize winner Foner (Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men) traces the complexities of Lincoln's evolving ideas about slavery and African-Americans: while he detested slavery, he also publicly rejected political and social equality for blacks, dragged his feet (critics charged) on emancipating slaves and accepting black recruits into the Union army, and floated schemes for colonizing freedmen overseas almost to war's end. Foner situates this record within a lucid, nuanced discussion of the era's turbulent racial politics; in his account Lincoln is a canny operator, cautiously navigating the racist attitudes of Northern whites, prodded--and sometimes willing to be prodded--by abolitionists and racial egalitarians pressing faster reforms. But as Foner tells it, Lincoln also embodies a society-wide transformation in consciousness, as the war's upheavals and the dynamic new roles played by African-Americans made previously unthinkable claims of freedom and equality seem inevitable. Lincoln is no paragon in Foner's searching portrait, but something more essential--a politician with an open mind and a restless conscience. 16 pages of illus., 3 maps.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"A well orchestrated examination of Lincoln’s changing views of slavery, bringing unforeseeable twists and a fresh sense of improbability to a familiar story."
― The 2011 Pulitzer Prize Committee

"Starred Review. Original and compelling….In the vast library on Lincoln, Foner’s book stands out as the most sensible and sensitive reading of Lincoln’s lifetime involvement with slavery and the most insightful assessment of Lincoln’s―and indeed America’s―imperative to move toward freedom lest it be lost. An essential work for all Americans."
― Library Journal

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition (October 4, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393066185
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393066180
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.7 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 673 ratings

About the author

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Eric Foner

Eric Foner

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Eric Foner is DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, where he earned his B.A. and Ph.D. In his teaching and scholarship, Foner focuses on the Civil War and Reconstruction, slavery, and nineteenth-century America. His "Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863–1877," won the Bancroft, Parkman, and Los Angeles Times Book prizes and remains the standard history of the period. In 2006 Foner received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching at Columbia University. He has served as president of the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, and the Society of American Historians. He is currently writing a book on Lincoln and slavery.

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Top reviews from the United States

Papito
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2024
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Very well-researched and -referenced study of Lincoln’s views of slavery from his early adult years to the time of his assassination.

It includes fascinating details about American history, politics, economic trends, population changes, market transformations, technological developments, antebellum Constitutional law, and social movements that prevailed during Lincoln’s life and places him squarely within the context of his times.

The genius and success of the work is that—to paraphrase the words of the book’s introduction—Foner does not “read history backwards” but uses contemporaneous accounts of all kinds (letters, speeches, personal stories and observations about Lincoln, newspaper articles, editorials, etc.) to chronologically trace Lincoln’s sentiments about slavery from beginning to end. There are also interesting biographical vignettes of many of Lincoln’s contemporaries which are indispensable to understanding the legal and political landscape of that era.

Lincoln was a product of his times as much as he was a creative force, and the author treats both with insight, objectivity, and scholarly skill.

This is a highly readable and highly recommended book.
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Middle-aged Professor
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating History; Truly Instructive
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2012
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This is a great book. I decided to read it because I felt I should know more about Lincoln's attitude towards slavery, but it turned out to need no "should" justification. It was difficult to put down. Some of the great things about the book: (i) the picture of slavery itself -- particularly at the start, we get a reminder glimpse of the deep horror of the reality of the institution, and throughout the book we get an understanding of the depth and breadth of its impact on national politics through most of the 19th century; (ii) an understanding of the many different positions on slavery and race in general in that era -- the simple pro and anti that we normally see now looking back 150 years doesn't even begin to describe it; (iii) the radicalness of abolition at the time it occurred and, even more so, the 14th Amendment; sad to say but, had the South not gone all in regarding right-to-have slavery, badly misplaying the hand, slavery in the South might have continued for many more decades, and the great foundation for advancement laid by the 14th Amendment might not have been laid (though, to be sure, the Andrew Johnson presidency largely buried it for nearly a century); (iv) a glimpse at many other fascinating and important figures of the time --- Seward, Sumner, Chase, Clay, and, above all, Frederick Douglass; (v) so much about Lincoln, including his moderate and deliberate leadership style (attacked on both sides at the time--can't help but see parallels with President Obama) and how his experiences and interactions affected his views over time; (vi) the decisive role blacks played in the outcome of the Civil War and the critical motivation that potential provided for advancing emancipation.

All in all, this was a great book; I'm glad it won the Pulitzer. I couldn't help but think of it in comparison to the much talked about  Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln . In that comparison, it's a Picasso next to a child's drawing, Peyton Manning next to Ryan Leaf, or  Thinking, Fast and Slow  next to  Outliers: The Story of Success  (sorry Malcom, actually Outliers is pretty good, it just pales next to Kahnman's great book). This is everything a history book for the public should be. If I had one negative comment, it would be that the perspective of black folks on these roiling times is largely absent, as absent as it was from Lincoln's experience. That makes sense since the book is about Lincoln, but it is the hole the book leaves that calls for another book. I myself have added "Frederick Douglas biography" to my future reading list.
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Luther Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars Capacity for growth
Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024
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The theme of the book is summed up succinctly near the end: “Lincoln had changed enormously during the war.” But more than that, Lincoln had changed enormously during his lifetime. Some would-be “historians” ignore or give him scant if any credit for that, but “cherry pick” things Lincoln said throughout his lifetime to portray him as ambivalent or worse on slavery and/or race, temporally compressing Lincoln to always be whatever he was at any given time. But as Foner says, the “essence of Lincoln’s greatness” was his “capacity for growth.” This excellent book outlines when and how he grew and is well worth the read.
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Top reviews from other countries

Bob Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Lincoln's problems
Reviewed in Canada on February 14, 2021
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Foner, Hofstadter and Bailyn; three great writers on American history who influenced me greatly.
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Sparky
5.0 out of 5 stars which he obviously enjoyed as he kept telling me about
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2018
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A rare book for my son, which he obviously enjoyed as he kept telling me about it
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VIC
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2015
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could'nt put it down, a book for the serious scholar or casual reader.
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Judith Kirkwood
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2015
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love this book
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R Helen
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and surprising look at Lincoln's views on slavery
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2016
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"The Fiery Trial" delves deeply into Lincoln's views on slavery, and traces his attitudes as they evolve from his early years right up through his last speech as President. As it is often assumed that Lincoln was an abolitionist, this book shows clearly that he was not. In fact, his views on African Americans would shock most Americans today. But Foner also clearly shows that Lincoln was a man of growth and he was not afraid to change his views as reality presented itself.
The book will surprise most of us whose history of the Civil War goes no further than what we've learned in grade school. For example, the famous Emancipation Proclamation surprisingly did not free all the slaves in the Union at once. Those in the border states who had not seceded from the Union (as well as some isolated places elsewhere) got to keep their slaves. It was only late in the War that Lincoln realized this would not work and advocated for an amendment to end slavery completely.
For anyone interested in Civil War history, this book is a must in understanding the complicated role slavery played in the Civil War and Lincoln's thoughts.
"The Fiery Trial," however, is written as a popular history book. It is not written in the fashionable narrative style that so many authors use today. It is well written and well-researched, but it will not flow like a novel, if that is what you are looking for. However, it is extremely informative and well worth the effort of reading. I would definitely recommend if you have an interest in American history and race relations. I think this book should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the unique history that has brought the United States to where it is today.
3 people found this helpful
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