History

The President and the Freedom Fighter: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Their Battle to Save America's Soul

The President and the Freedom Fighter: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Their Battle to Save America's Soul

  • Downloads：8793
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-10-28 17:21:40
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Brian Kilmeade
  • ISBN：052554058X
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Marie Zahnle ，

Uneven writing。 Most information well documented in other rsources。

Tyler Standish ，

A quick read that explores the complex relationship between two complex men who both have grand legacies。

Kirk Dobihal ，

Excellent history twining Fredrick Douglass with A。 Lincoln。 Douglass puts Lincoln to test in respect to slavery and the treatment of blacks during the age prior and during the Civil War。 Nothing really new here in respect to history it is just nice to have a back-and-forth look at the friction and salve that accompany this age of our nations struggle to find ourself。

Larry Walsh ，

I enjoyed reading about two of the nation's most important historical figures。 The complicated nature of Honest Abe and Frederick Douglass's relationship was fascinating。 I learned new things about the Civil War。 Great story！ I enjoyed reading about two of the nation's most important historical figures。 The complicated nature of Honest Abe and Frederick Douglass's relationship was fascinating。 I learned new things about the Civil War。 Great story！ 。。。more

Mary ，

I always like and learn something when I read Kilmeade's history books。 This one was no exception。 I had no idea that the inventor ， Douglas， had been friends with Lincoln。 They came from separate worlds and persuasions and yet influenced each other and changed history together。 Tolerance and open minds really can change the world。It is worth your while to read this if you like history。 As always， Kilmeade makes for easy reading without watering down history。 I always like and learn something when I read Kilmeade's history books。 This one was no exception。 I had no idea that the inventor ， Douglas， had been friends with Lincoln。 They came from separate worlds and persuasions and yet influenced each other and changed history together。 Tolerance and open minds really can change the world。It is worth your while to read this if you like history。 As always， Kilmeade makes for easy reading without watering down history。 。。。more

Gwen Hopkins ，

The book is a wonderful reading experienxe experience。I have read many books on Lincoln and the Civil War。 I learned several things that I had never read before。

Judy Packard ，

I really liked this book。 Great detail without being boring。 There is so much to the racial divide in the country at Civil War and how Lincoln was trying to begin healing it。 Important for our day to have a better understanding of history of race relations in our country。

Lily ，

If you enjoy learning about history， this book is for you。 With all you think you know about Lincoln and Douglass this book really opened my eyes to so many things I did not know about the 2 men。 I had no idea they had become friends， over time。 And that Lincoln looked to Douglass for advice and support。 I highly recommend this book。

Sue ，

The fact that Lincoln was not always anti-slavery has been well documented。 But faulty thinkers can still accomplish great good。 Douglas’ life and influence was new to me。

Kale Blickenstaff ，

If you had a decent 8th grade history teacher， you don't need to read this book。 If you've never heard of either man， you probably should read this book。 If you had a decent 8th grade history teacher， you don't need to read this book。 If you've never heard of either man， you probably should read this book。 。。。more

Jan ，

A quick read comparing the lives of two men and their work for freedom。 I enjoyed learning about Lincoln's changing thought process。 Douglass is fascinating。 It is clear to me that if Douglass had chosen to stop his dialogue with Lincoln things would probably have turned out quite differently。 That's a message for all of us to listen to each other。 Keep the door of communication open。 I also liked the clear message that there is always more to do。 A quick read comparing the lives of two men and their work for freedom。 I enjoyed learning about Lincoln's changing thought process。 Douglass is fascinating。 It is clear to me that if Douglass had chosen to stop his dialogue with Lincoln things would probably have turned out quite differently。 That's a message for all of us to listen to each other。 Keep the door of communication open。 I also liked the clear message that there is always more to do。 。。。more

Ron Jaeger ，

Tremendous historical and personal book about Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas。 Both grew up in poverty， overcame their circumstances to lead America as friends through the Civil War。 This work should be required reading in American history classes。Well done Brian Kilmeade。

Richard Lowery ，

The book was okay。 It provided me with some knowledge of Frederick Douglas' life， but not much new about Lincoln。 You would probably be better off reading a biography of Frederick Douglas' life and skipping this book。 Still， it kept me entertained for a week while I listened to it in my car。 The book was okay。 It provided me with some knowledge of Frederick Douglas' life， but not much new about Lincoln。 You would probably be better off reading a biography of Frederick Douglas' life and skipping this book。 Still， it kept me entertained for a week while I listened to it in my car。 。。。more

Gene Ruppe ，

Liked it！ It’s always a treat to read a Kilmeade historical book。

Chuck ，

While the book offered some interesting insights into what was happening and the political lead to emancipation， it was simply not a compelling read。 This series has trended down since opening with the outstand Andrew Jackson and the BArbary Pirates。

Michelle ，

Clever setup。 Coinciding the lives of Lincoln and Douglass from birth allowing you to see the way their lives were interconnected and the influence on each other’s lives。 I learned a lot of new things and will definitely be passing this on to my eager Civil War loving boys。 Kilmeade definitely has a passion for writing a book with pacing， no matter the topic。 Don’t know how he does it， but I appreciate it。 Good solid history lesson。 With Black AND White capitalized as it should be in my eyes。 No Clever setup。 Coinciding the lives of Lincoln and Douglass from birth allowing you to see the way their lives were interconnected and the influence on each other’s lives。 I learned a lot of new things and will definitely be passing this on to my eager Civil War loving boys。 Kilmeade definitely has a passion for writing a book with pacing， no matter the topic。 Don’t know how he does it， but I appreciate it。 Good solid history lesson。 With Black AND White capitalized as it should be in my eyes。 No need for supremacy on either side y’all。 Created in God’s image。 ✌️ 。。。more

Quentin Christian ，

This was his best book。 Fantastic read。 And great insight from the perspective of Douglass and Lincoln。

Carl Obendorf ，

A quick read with a good blend of being thorough without being wordy。 I like this author's use of the English language， as he concisely narrated history without using words I had to keep consulting a dictionary for， as some authors seem more interested in showing off their vocabulary than anything else。 The story was interesting from both a historically and politically。 A quick read with a good blend of being thorough without being wordy。 I like this author's use of the English language， as he concisely narrated history without using words I had to keep consulting a dictionary for， as some authors seem more interested in showing off their vocabulary than anything else。 The story was interesting from both a historically and politically。 。。。more

Jared Christensen ，

This is an excellent， abbreviated history of the years of President Lincoln， the President， and Frederick Douglass， the great fighter for freedom of the Slaves。 I highly recommend this book。

Luke Mohamed ，

Weaved the two histories together rather well， but didn't feel like I learned much that I hadn't already gathered from a Lincoln- or Douglass-specific book。 Weaved the two histories together rather well， but didn't feel like I learned much that I hadn't already gathered from a Lincoln- or Douglass-specific book。 。。。more

Nate Temp ，

Very engaging and entertaining。 A great explanation of these two men and their role on shaping America and the real reason and legacy of the Civil War。

Denice ，

Interesting story。 Truth。 Reads like a textbook。 No language or sex

Matt Randall ，

Frederick Douglas was an amazing man。

Sarah Johnson ，

I learned so much about these two great leaders。 And the book didn’t read like a traditional non-fiction book。 It read more like a narrative non-fiction。 It was so engaging。 I could easily imagine all the things from the book in my mind。

jeffrey a lott ，

Well written Fascinating Must read for anyone who is interested in reading about the lives of two great men Lincoln and Frederick Douglas。 Without them and many other good people in support of freedom who knows where we would be。

Reece ，

Brian Kilmeade tells a story， not a report， of two of the biggest and most influential men in American History。 This story is both interesting and enlightening。 It provides detailed histories about Lincoln and Douglass and their successes and failures within the slavery and Civil War issue of the 19th Century。 The best part of Kilmeade’s writing here was his analysis of the development of both Lincoln and Douglass as people throughout their lives， from unknowing children born into nothing， to th Brian Kilmeade tells a story， not a report， of two of the biggest and most influential men in American History。 This story is both interesting and enlightening。 It provides detailed histories about Lincoln and Douglass and their successes and failures within the slavery and Civil War issue of the 19th Century。 The best part of Kilmeade’s writing here was his analysis of the development of both Lincoln and Douglass as people throughout their lives， from unknowing children born into nothing， to the President and the Freedom Fighter who ended slavery in the United States。 He tells the story of their evolutions in thinking and solutions， he shows their emotions and ideas， he lets the reader feel what each man felt so many years ago。 I strongly recommend all to read this book！ 。。。more

Andrea ，

I enjoyed the content and suspect that had I read the book I would have given it 4 stars but， unfortunately， I listened to the audiobook and my enjoyment suffer。 Kilmeade did the narration himself and he doesn't do it well。 He reads very quickly （at one point I checked to make sure my play speed hadn't been increased） and each sentence sounds like it ends with an exclamation point。 His cadence is awkward and makes sentence structure hard to follow。 This was my first book of his and I will read o I enjoyed the content and suspect that had I read the book I would have given it 4 stars but， unfortunately， I listened to the audiobook and my enjoyment suffer。 Kilmeade did the narration himself and he doesn't do it well。 He reads very quickly （at one point I checked to make sure my play speed hadn't been increased） and each sentence sounds like it ends with an exclamation point。 His cadence is awkward and makes sentence structure hard to follow。 This was my first book of his and I will read others but， rest assured， I would be reading and not listening。 Just because you wrote the book doesn't always mean you should narrate it。 。。。more

Natalie Jessop ，

Kilmeade did a great job highlighting two men’s lives， their strengths and shortcomings and how they grew into men who shaped the nation。 I appreciate Kilmeade’s writing style as well， he takes history and writes it in such a way that reads more like a story and not like a text book。

Mike Lund ，

An Enlightening and Enjoyable ReadWell written and researched。 Kilmeade covers a lot of information and he covers it fairly and in reasonable detail。 Both enlightening and an enjoyable read。 Perfect for summer nights on the patio。 The 6 elements of a good story are: Characters， Setting， Plot， Conflict， Resolution and Point of View。 What makes “Lincoln and the Freedom Fighter” interesting and easy to read is that its written like a good story。 It shows Lincolns evolution on slavery and racial iss An Enlightening and Enjoyable ReadWell written and researched。 Kilmeade covers a lot of information and he covers it fairly and in reasonable detail。 Both enlightening and an enjoyable read。 Perfect for summer nights on the patio。 The 6 elements of a good story are: Characters， Setting， Plot， Conflict， Resolution and Point of View。 What makes “Lincoln and the Freedom Fighter” interesting and easy to read is that its written like a good story。 It shows Lincolns evolution on slavery and racial issues between his 1847 Congressional Bill， to the end of the Civil War。 Admittedly， some background topics are presented but glossed over in order to keep the plot flowing。 An enjoyable read and should be informative to most readers。 。。。more

Daniel ，

It struck me as I was reading David W。 Blight’s biography of Frederick Douglass that his subject like Abraham Lincoln was self-educated。 Neither had spent much time in a schoolroom。 Yet most who have studied the two men would agree that they rank among the wisest Americans of all time， perhaps the two wisest Americans of the Nineteenth Century。Thus when I heard about this book， Kilmeade's book， I quickly ordered it。And while I am grateful for it， I regret to say that I am disappointed with it。It It struck me as I was reading David W。 Blight’s biography of Frederick Douglass that his subject like Abraham Lincoln was self-educated。 Neither had spent much time in a schoolroom。 Yet most who have studied the two men would agree that they rank among the wisest Americans of all time， perhaps the two wisest Americans of the Nineteenth Century。Thus when I heard about this book， Kilmeade's book， I quickly ordered it。And while I am grateful for it， I regret to say that I am disappointed with it。It seems at times that Brian Kilmeade wrote in great haste， more eager to meet a deadline than to tell his story。 And yes， he does provide the crucial information about the intersecting lives of these two great men， he left me wanting more。 Maybe my expectations led to my disappointment。 I was hoping Kilmeade might reflect on it was that two self-educated men could rise to become leaders in their century， leaders who words and deeds continue to inspire us today， well over a century after they passed from the scene。Would either have become wise， become the leader that each became had he received a more traditional education？I had hoped for a consideration of that question。I caught at least one error in the text， the dating of Lee’s surrender at Appomattox to April 11 when it took place on April 9th。 In several places， the hasty writing led to confusing sentences， occasionally obscuring the Great Emancipator’s strategic vision。 For example， Kilmeade misrepresents what we might today call Lincoln's long game when he writes about an emancipation proclamation Major General John C。 Frémont issued on August 30， 1861 freeing Missouri’s slaves。 Lincoln ordered the Californian to rescind it， later removing him from his command in the West。 “In short，” Kilmeade writes， supposedly summing up the situation， “wanted Frémont’s emancipation to go away。” But， no， that’s not what Lincoln wanted。 He knew he needed to wait for the right moment to emancipate the enslaved Americans。 And he knew he couldn't do it so early in the war when the risk of Missouri and other border states seceding remained high。 It wasn’t that Lincoln wanted emancipation to go away。 It was that he was waiting for the timing to be right。Despite this book’s flaws， I am grateful it exists。 It is important to study the biographies of these two great self-educated men side by side。 Each man has a broad moral vision。 Lincoln had a great strategic sense。 Douglass was a great orator。 Both men delivered speeches whose words remain relevant， remain vital， today。Kilmeade’s book should sit beside H。W。 Brands’s The Zealot and the Emancipator: John Brown， Abraham Lincoln， and the Struggle for American Freedom， another books which considers the Great Emancipator alongside a man with a powerful moral vision。Though I might have given this book a different title: The Statesman and the Prophet。 。。。more