From his humble beginnings to his leadership of a divided nation during the Civil War to his early efforts in abolishing slavery, Lincoln's legacy is one of deep personal and political courage. In this unique and concise retelling of many of the key moments and achievements of Lincoln's life and work, Frank J. Williams explores in detail what it means to be a hero and how Lincoln embodied the qualities Americans look for in their heroes.

Frank J. Williams, retired chief justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and a well-known expert on Abraham Lincoln, is the founding chair of the Lincoln Forum and a board member of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation. He is the author or editor of more than a dozen books, including Judging Lincoln, The Emancipation Proclamation: Three Views, and Lincoln Lessons: Reflections on America's Greatest Leader.