Why Lincoln Laughed

Russell Herman ConwellProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 137K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Why Lincoln Laughed by Russell H. ConwellAuthor: Conwell, Russell H., 1843-1925,Language: English, Class: E456: History: America: Civil War period (1861-1865), Release Date: Dec 28, 2011

Editor's review

This book explores Lincoln's humorous side and belongs to the history of the American Civil War period, written by Conwell. Rather than grand narratives of battles and political decisions, it approaches through anecdotes and everyday remarks, presenting a more human Lincoln. For readers who have already read Lincoln biographies, this book supplements character sketches beyond formal history and helps understand the role of humor in public communication and coping with pressure. As a public-domain ebook, the text is easily accessible, suitable as supplementary material for thematic reading and casual browsing for readers interested in nineteenth-century American political culture. It is best read as historical anecdotes rather than a complete biography or rigorous academic monograph.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with basic knowledge of Lincoln's life and character who want supplementary anecdotal details
Readers who enjoy Civil War-era American history and are willing to read English public-domain historical texts
Humanities students studying humor expression and communication styles of public figures
English or history teachers needing short historical source materials for classroom supplementation

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking a systematic understanding of Lincoln's political career and the Civil War
Researchers needing rigorous academic argumentation and detailed annotations
General readers who prefer reading in Chinese and are unwilling to handle English originals

Reading tips

Read a concise Lincoln biography first, then this book, so the anecdotes do not lose their context.
Take thematic notes on humorous examples in the book, noting the occasions and audiences.
The English original is limited in length; read a short section daily and take brief notes.
Consider the public function of humor within the political context of the Civil War rather than viewing anecdotes in isolation.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a complete biography of Lincoln?

No. It focuses on Lincoln's humor and anecdotes, a character-sketch historical essay rather than a complete chronological biography. To understand Lincoln systematically, read a general biography first and treat this book as supplementary reading.

What English level is needed to read this book?

The original is nineteenth-century English with longer sentences and some expressions bearing marks of the era. College-level English reading ability is sufficient to attempt it; use a dictionary for obscure passages. Intensive sentence-by-sentence reading is unnecessary; grasp the main anecdote and character reactions.

Is this book suitable as primary material for historical research?

It can serve as auxiliary material for understanding the circulation of Lincoln's image and anecdotal narratives, but should not alone serve as the basis for rigorous historical argumentation. Researchers should consult more authoritative biographies, letters, and archives, and note the author's era-specific standpoint.

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About the author

Russell Herman Conwell Author · American · 1843–1925

Russell Herman Conwell (1843–1925) was an American Baptist minister, orator, lawyer, and writer, and the founder and first president of Temple University in Philadelphia. He is best known for his motivational lecture "Acres of Diamonds," which he claimed to have delivered more than six thousand times and which later circulated in written form. The library holds ten of his works, mostly in the inspirational and personal-growth category, including Acres of Diamonds, The Key to Success, Every Man His Own University, and What You Can Do With Your Will Power, as well as titles on faith and the inner life such as Health, Healing, and Faith and Praying for Money. Many of his writings grew out of his lectures; their tone is direct and stirring, stressing personal will, self-education, and the value of opportunities close at hand. Public information on his early life and detailed biography is limited, so it is not elaborated here.