The Photographer and the President

March 15, 2015

Yet another book on Abraham Lincoln or the U.S. Civil War, you say? Yes, but with a novel tack and agreeably informative style to justify its existence. Lowry (film & media studies, Coll. of William and Mary) argues that Lincoln tapped the emerging medium of photography as a political force, with the austere portraits and battlefield landscapes shot by Scotsman Alexander Gardner shaping our collective memory of Lincoln and the bloodiest war in American history. At 130 photos, "Father Abraham" ranked among the most photographed figures of the 19th century, with his weathered face and wise, sorrowful countenance embodying the nation's suffering and resolve. Coverage marches chronologically, from Lincoln's inauguration (1861) to snapshots of the chair in which he was shot (1865). Much of the book analyzes Gardner's photos of Civil War battlefields strewn with corpses, several of which he probably moved into more grotesquely scenic positions before filming. The photos frame Lowry's larger discussion on the nature and significance of the medium. VERDICT Not an essential text but ideal for fans of Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals, this is a thoughtful exploration of how photographs help us understand Lincoln's political vision and America's memorialization of the past.--Michael Rodriguez, Hodges Univ. Lib., Naples, FL

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