Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with Our Greatest President Book

"Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes and Confabulations Associated With Our Greatest President" by Edward Steer Jr. is an excellent addition to any historian's collection of Civil War-related tomes and yet, at the same time, it is easily accessible by non-Lincoln scholars as well.

The sections deal with many different myths and hoaxes that seem to surround our 16th President. The book begins with the fraud that is the Lincoln cabin, the "alleged" birthplace of the President. Its legitimacy is called into question by its shady and questionable past and uncertain provenance.

In other chapters, the hoax surrounding fabricated love letters between Lincoln and Ann Rutledge is revealed, even with this hoax, the unsupported illusion that Ann was Lincoln's "one great love" (addressed in another chapter) still refuses to die. Of course, according to one misguided historian, Lincoln was actually gay (supported only by reading into a few statements what he wanted to see) another myth easily dispensed with.

From "lost" drafts of the Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" to the shifting of authorship of the Bixby Letter, it certainly seems that interest in Lincoln and his writings hasn't diminished any in the last 150 years.

By far though, my favorite chapter was the "Noble American or Deceptive Doctor?" one about Doctor Samuel Mudd, the man who continues to be historically vilified for his role in helping John Wilkes Booth escape. In this chapter, Steers presents the case and proves BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, that Doctor Mudd was a traitor and deserved his punishment (the continued actions of his descendents to clear his name not withstanding) and in the opinion of this reader, should have hanged with Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt, he got off easy.

"Lincoln Legends" is a fascinating and engaging read. I recommend it to one and all.