And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle (Random House Large Print)

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I am satisfied that when the Almighty wants me to do or not to do a particular thing, He finds a way of letting me know it.” “…and whatever appears to be God’s will, I will do it.” Lincoln What do you make of Jacques claim to be able to discern the character of people? He goes so far as to say he felt he was protected magically. Do you believe him? iOnline version: |aMeacham, Jon. |tAnd there was light. |bFirst edition |dNew York : Random House, [2022] |z9780553393972 |w(DLC) 2022023165

If you don't normally read books about History, I would not start with this one. It's dense and it's written in a way that supposes you already know alot about the Civil War and Lincoln. Most of the stuff I know about the Civil War, I learned from Ken Burns. Lusseyran, Jacques (1985). And There Was Light. Edinburgh: Floris Books. pp.174–176. ISBN 978-086315-507-9.Unlike any book I have read on Lincoln, this book explores the inner workings and beliefs of Lincoln. He possessed a moral compass that might sway occasionally, but in the end it always landed on the righteous and virtuous nature of the man... righteous and virtuous nature we wish in all our leaders and find in so, so few. That is not to say that Lincoln was not an acute politician and depending on the audience swayed from some of his profound beliefs. He understood politics as well as anyone. Yet, as the next presidential election approached, Lincoln risked his political future for his moral convictions, intending to preserve both democracy and the Union. Meacham puts it this way: “To end slavery, Lincoln risked defeat and banishment to Springfield—the highest prices for a political man to pay.” He then adds: “But he was ready to pay. He would rise or fall on emancipation. He thought it was right.” How did the different personalities of the members of the resistance affect the end of their lives? (How did Georges end differ from Francois’s and Jean’s? What do you think made the difference?) As a result, readers in search of a traditional biography are likely to find this book more ponderous and philosophical than expected. Its twenty-eight chapters do closely follow the contours of Lincoln's life, but its mission is far less sweeping than one might expect for a book which purportedly "chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln." For those predisposed to admire Abraham Lincoln, this book is like a warm, cozy blanket. It can be appreciated as a reassuring “Great Man of History” Dad book, which makes it destined to appear under many a Christmas tree this year.

What do you make of Jacques’ treatment of women? Is it respectful? Does it make women seem too foreign? How do you think the story would have been different if Jacques had been born blind? What if he had gone blind just before the war? How does the voice of the story work for you? How does it compare to other first-person accounts that you’ve read? Does the style help or hinder the story?Jacques says that he at first called his experiences with light a “secret” and only shared this secret with his most intimate friends. He even wonders if they believed him. Do you believe him? Hill, Miriam Helen (1985). Bound to the environment: Towards a phenomenology of sightlessness. In: David Seamon, Robert Mugerauer (eds), Dwelling, Place and Environment, Towards a Phenomenology of Person and World, Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, pp 99-111