Our Ancient Faith

“Guelzo looks to the 19th century to identify the challenges of sustaining a free society. He argues compellingly that Abraham Lincoln, who fought to defend the American republic against autocratic forces in the South while restricting civil liberties in the North, can help us figure out how to strike a balance.” —Parker Henry, The New York Times

“Brim[s] with worthy insights and well-selected quotations . . . Writing in the shadow of what he knows are despairing political times—the brink of a presidential contest that few seem to want—Allen Guelzo offers us the solace of Abraham Lincoln’s belief in democracy . . . Thus his gift to readers: ‘I offer this man’s example.’” —Roger Lowenstein, The Wall Street Journal

“It is impossible to read Our Ancient Faith without feeling that Guelzo wrote this book as much for himself as for us, to fortify himself for the 2024 election battle to come; and to share an illuminating and ennobling story with a people short on hope and—just as important and just as troubling—perspective.” —David Shirbman, The Boston Globe

“As the subject of thousands of studies, Lincoln is one of American history’s most written-about individuals. It is therefore a welcome surprise to read such fresh insights as Guelzo musters here . . . In an era when democracy’s death is shouted from the front page of seemingly every U.S. newspaper, it is comforting to read that Abraham Lincoln, at least, thought the effort to maintain it was not in vain.” —Booklist

“Here is a penetrating look at both the seeds of American democracy and their greatest cultivator.” —The New Criterion

“Shines a new light on Lincoln’s powerful vision for true democracy.” —Washington Examiner

“Remarkably compact and accessible . . . sees Lincoln’s attributes as well as his shortcomings as clearly as anyone I have ever read on the subject.” —California Review of Books

“The best picture we have of Lincoln’s views on democracy, [from] our finest living historian of Lincoln and the Civil War.” —Steven B. Smith, American Political Thought