The Lincoln Miracle

Inside the Republican Convention That Changed History

By: Edward Achorn

Narrated by: Adam Barr

The vivid, behind-the-scenes story of perhaps the most consequential political moment in American history—Abraham Lincoln’s history-changing nomination to lead the Republican Party in the 1860 presidential election.

Illinois lawyer Abraham Lincoln had a record of political failure. In 1858, he had lost a celebrated Senate bid against incumbent Stephen Douglas, his second failed Senate run, and had not held public office since one term in Congress a decade earlier. As the Republican National Convention opened in mid-May 1860 in Chicago, powerful New York Senator William Seward was the overwhelming favorite for the presidential nomination, with notables like Salmon Chase and Edward Bates in the running. Few thought Lincoln stood a chance—though stubborn Illinois Circuit Judge David Davis had come to fight for his friend anyway.

Such was the political landscape as Edward Achorn’s The Lincoln Miracle opens on Saturday, May 12, 1860. Chronicling the tense political drama as it unfolded over the next six days, Achorn explores the genius of Lincoln’s quiet strategy, the vicious partisanship tearing apart America, the fierce battles raging over racism and slavery, and booming Chicago as a symbol of the modernization transforming the nation. Closely following the shrewd insiders on hand, from Seward power broker Thurlow Weed to editor Horace Greeley—bent on stopping his former friend, Seward—Achorn brings alive arguably the most consequential political story in America’s history.

From smoky hotel rooms to night marches by the Wide Awakes, the new Republican youth organization, to fiery speeches on the floor of the giant convention center called The Wigwam, Achorn portrays a political climate even more contentious than our own today, out of which the seemingly impossible long shot prevailed, to the nation’s everlasting benefit. As atmospheric and original as Achorn’s previous Every Drop of Blood, The Lincoln Miracle is essential listening for any Lincoln aficionado as it is for anyone who cares about our nation’s history.

©2023 Edward Achorn. Recorded by arrangement with Atlantic Monthly Press, an imprint of Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2022 Audible, Inc.

I loved every minute!

I have read or listened with great pleasure to myriad books on the life and service of Abraham Lincoln, but I dont think I have enjoyed any more than this one. The author swept me up in the drama of the 1860 Convention. His descriptions made me visualize the excited delegates and join their anticipation.
The backstories on Lincoln associates were superb and added to my knowledge and enjoyment.
The narrator's voice characterizations also superbly enhanced this audio edition. A truly great edition to Lincoln lore!

engaging and exciting

for those of you who are political nerds, this is the book for you. it is it reads more like a political drama than a history and brings to life the dynamic personalities of that time. well worth

Long

Interesting but way too long for the topic. Couldn't force myself to finish... Many other terrific books on Lincoln

Detailed, bordering dry

An interesting and intensely detailed looked into the politics surrounding Lincoln’s inauguration. It was sometimes a bit too detailed and made the book a little dry and difficult to stay engaged, yet not always like that. Additionally the narrator changed voices throughout the book, a minor inconsistency that was overshadowed by his sometimes trailing off at the end of a sentence that made me miss a few words.