Stephen a. Douglas

Winner of the Francis Parkman Prize of the Society of American HistoriansFor the quarter-century before 1860 Stephen A. Douglas was a dominantfigure on the American political scene, far outshadowing Abraham Lincoln.This first paperback printing of Robert Johannsen's authoritative biographyfeatures 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 suchskill that we can now understand why Abraham Lincoln found the 'LittleGiant' the most formidable political rival he ever faced." -- DavidH. Donald, author of Lincoln and two-time winner of the PulitzerPrize"Well-organized and marvelously detailed. . . . The book demonstratesthe virtues of large-scale, straightforward narrative biography at itsbest. Its completeness and objectivity will make it the standard authorityfor many years to come." -- Richard N. Current, The New York Times Book Review "Superb. . . . Will doubtless stand as the definitive biographyof Stephen A. Douglas for this generation." -- Hans L. Trefousse,The Journal of American History "An impressive work--impressive in scope, in research, and in maturityof understanding. . . . Johannsen has constructed a biography that isrich 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 befound." -- Harry V. Jaffa, National Review "The research is amazingly exhaustive and the writing is unusuallyreadable. . . . 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