In Out of Darkness William Hanchett, a leading Lincoln Scholar,         follows Abraham Lincoln from his birth and chronicles his thirst for education,         his achievements as a lawyer and congressman, his presidency, and his         assassination.       Hanchett gives readers a deeper understanding of how Lincoln's self-directed         study and clear thinking offset his lack of a formal education, enabling         him to become a respected and successful attorney. He also shows how Lincoln's         uncanny leadership helped him to end slavery and still keep the divided         North sufficiently united to win the Civil War. By focusing on a variety         of roles and settings, Hanchett invites readers to get to know Lincoln         as a president, as well as a lover, husband, father, and friend.       "Excellent! Hanchett is a fine writer, and his biography of Lincoln         is succinct and thought-provoking."         -- Frank J. Williams, president, Abraham Lincoln Association