Nursing Home Fugitive Book

Have you ever looked out across a field of faces and wondered?

Who are these people, individually? What do they believe? Who do they love?

The Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858 fired the attitudes and imaginations of many thousands of people. It was a major step in the ongoing battle for states' rights, that would not be settled until the end of the Civil War.

In "Candidate Lincoln", the author weaves an intricate pattern of fiction and nonfiction, bringing to life some of the names associated with those times and events. Although she uses real people, she also has given them color and reality through her excellent talent for storytelling.

The reporter Robert Hitt, whose belief in Lincoln made him a target for those who would repress his rights to report facts from the Lincoln party's point of view. He risked it all to uphold what he believed in.

Myra Bradwell, brilliant wife of lawyer James Bradwell, who yearned for that same title and occupation. Her pregnancy did not keep her from attending the debates, even though there was violence at every one of them. When her daughter was born, her first words to the little mite were, "Crying never helps. It's action that's wanted." It was her attitude, and those of future suffragettes, who freed women from the bondage of subservience.

Samuel Arnold, whose dedication to Douglas and impassioned disillusionment about Lincoln caused him to write an impassioned letter to an actor-friend of his. In it he pleaded for his friend to take sides, and also unwittingly spoke a chilling prophesy.

Scotch Johnston, a free black who was respected in his town, but seemingly only because the townspeople wanted no further violence. The murder of a white publisher, Scotch's friend, still reverberated through the town. Scotch's presence never let them forget it.

There are many more, but then this review would grow to be the size of Ms. Baldini's book. Her story has so much color and so much character. History fans of both the fictional and the nonfictional variety would love this book. I hope there are going to be more along these lines.