The Best of the Bargain: Lincoln In Western New York Hardcover – 12 October 2010

So many books have already been written about Abraham Lincoln and his presidency. Yet this book does manage to cover some fresh ground. In 1861 Lincoln took an extended train ride from his home in Springfield, IL, to his inauguration in Washington D.C. During this trip he rode through many of the Northern states, including New York, and "The Best of the Bargain" focuses primarily on his stops in Western New York.The book is thoroughly researched and is enlivened by a number of illustrations. Lincoln enthusiasts, those with an interest in Western New York history, and anyone who enjoys an in-depth look at a particular place and time will find this to be an entertaining read.With the nation facing a secession crisis at the time, a reader may desire more insight into Lincoln's inner-most thoughts and feelings. But "The Best of the Bargain" is unable to shed much light here as Lincoln was very cautious throughout the trip and careful with his words, still hopeful that a peaceful resolution to the crisis was possible.Perhaps this book is all the better for it though. We all know now that the nation will be plunged into a bloody civil war soon after the inauguration. Even so, the cheering crowds, the hopeful atmosphere, and the light-hearted anecdotes provide a refreshingly pleasant look back into a most difficult time in our history.But the tone of the book changes dramatically in the final chapter. The story jumps ahead four years to 1865, to the end of the Civil War and Lincoln's assassination. Lincoln's body is returned to Springfield by train along roughly the same route as the trip to his inauguration. The cheering crowds were replaced by respectful mourners. And in Buffalo alone nearly 100,000 people viewed his body and paid their final respects."The Best of the Bargain" goes full circle, as it starts with the very beginning of one of the greatest presidencies in American history - and finishes with its tragic conclusion.