“Coming to the village like ‘a piece of floating
driftwood,’ as [Lincoln] said, he had worked his way up to a position of
leadership not only in New Salem but in the state as well” (134).
The Book
The purpose
of Lincoln’s New Salem is to
introduce the reader to a time that shaped Abraham Lincoln’s life. Author,
Benjamin P. Thomas argues that the six years (1831-1837) Lincoln spent in New
Salem influenced many of his skills and abilities: leadership, reputation,
politics, law, public speaking, and debate to name a few.
Thomas
splits the book into three sections, the history of New Salem, Lincoln’s time
in New Salem, and the restoration of New Salem. Part One explores the frontier
era and what life was like for the average pioneer. Thomas also touches on the
people, businesses, and growth of New Salem. Part Two comprises the bulk of the
book. Here the reader learns of Lincoln’s arrival in town and the various jobs
he held. Lincoln quickly earned the reputation of courageous, strong, honest,
and truthful. It is in New Salem where Lincoln first runs for political office
and begins to educate himself, ultimately settling on reading the law. In 1837,
Lincoln was admitted to the Illinois State Bar and moved to Springfield (the
new state capitol). Part Three provides the reader with a look at the growth of
the Lincoln legend, after his assassination, which led to an interest in
Lincoln pre-presidency. That interest led to restoration efforts in New Salem,
as well as in Kentucky and Indiana.
Lincoln’s New Salem was originally published in 1954, 32 years after restoration began of the
New Salem village. Thomas is considered a Lincoln scholar and lends
credibility to this in-depth look at six years of Lincoln’s life. Lincoln’s New Salem is well-written,
although it is a straight history book full of details regarding Lincoln and
the frontier of central Illinois. Sometimes, the reader can get lost in the
lists of facts or descriptions, but the detail does help the reader visualize
Lincoln’s world.
The Place
Lincoln’s New Salem provides
visitors the chance to walk the streets of the village Lincoln called home for
six years. Numerous buildings, including log homes, were restored and filled
with period furniture. The New Salem Mill, a significant part of the village,
was also restored.
