Ubiquitous and enigmatic, the historical Lincoln, the literary Lincoln, even the cinematic Lincoln have all proved both fascinating and irresistible. Though some 16,000 books have been written about him, there is always more to say, new aspects of his life to consider, new facets of his persona to explore. Enlightening and entertaining, Exploring Lincoln offers a selection of sixteen papers presented at the Lincoln Forum symposia over the past three years.

Shining new light on particular aspects of Lincoln and his tragically abbreviated presidency, Exploring Lincoln presents a compelling snapshot of current Lincoln scholarship and a fascinating window into understanding America's greatest president.

Harold Holzer, Senior Vice President for External Affairs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is one of the nation's leading authorities on Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. He served as co chairman of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and has written, co written, or edited thirty-five books.

Craig L. Symonds is Professor Emeritus at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he taught courses on the American Civil War and naval history for thirty years. He is the author of twelve books, most recently Lincoln and His Admirals: Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. Navy, and the Civil War, which won the Barondess/Lincoln Prize, the Daniel and Marilyn Laney Prize, the John Lyman Book Award, and the Lincoln Prize in 2009.

Frank J. Williams, a renowned Lincoln scholar, is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, a member of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, and author or editor of many books, including Judging Lincoln. He is chair of the Lincoln Forum.