A Henry Rollins Book Reco

The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery
by Eric Foner (448 pp., W.W. Norton & Company, $29.95)

Here’s something you may not know about Henry Rollins: Aside from being a Grammy-winning and self-described aging punk icon, the former Black Flag frontman is also an Abraham Lincoln obsessive, with at least one book on the 16th president in his travel bag at all times. So when he recommends a book on Honest Abe, that’s good enough for us. Here’s what he told us about Eric Foner’s groundbreaking work: “It specifically addresses his relationship, politically and philosophically, with slavery. The guy has taken a single hair off the camel and put it under the microscope. It’s a hell of a read.” The Pulitzer Prize committee agreed, giving it their 2011 history award and calling it “a well orchestrated examination of Lincoln’s changing views of slavery.” Well, if it’s good enough for Hank and the Pulitzer guys, it’s good enough for us.

This article appears in December 2 • 2011.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.