famous man america famous man america biography henry ward biography 19th century american minister written published book describes childhood ministry support abolition slavery social causes widely publicized trial adultery publishing book researched wrote years starting undergraduate student alma mater book generally received critics awarded pulitzer prize biography autobiography background undergraduate student worker assigned assemble exhibit famous alumnus selected later wrote undergraduate senior thesis subject phd yale_university graduation signed publishing contract biography write biography popular appeal studied fiction writing including techniques suspense pornographic writing structured resulting book psychological thriller originally hoped publish book scandal president bill_clinton discovered sexual relationship white_house intern research took years longer initially planned book finally released paperback book editions contents famous man america follows life 19th century american minister introduction describes speech south_carolina close american_civil_war personally invited speak president abraham_lincoln commented better send deliver address occasion raising flag flag raise difficult childhood son famous henry initially overshadowed accomplished siblings included later author novel cabin henry discovered gift public speaking went ministry attending lane theological seminary served minister indiana indianapolis moving richer post brooklyn new_york new_york soon acquired fame lecture circuit novel style employed humor dialect slang course ministry developed theology emphasizing god love contrast father stern grew interested social reform particularly abolitionist movement years leading civil war raised money purchase slaves captivity send rifles nicknamed fighting kansas nebraska toured europe civil war speaking support union war supported social reform causes women suffrage book closing chapters details relationship wife friend associate consequences confessed retracted confession affair husband later filed adultery charges resulting widely reported american trials century assessing legacy states reputation eclipsed success deeply infused rhetoric christ love americans imagine appreciation memory revolution wrought peers adds hard consider affairs near affairs compares great leaders need love approval led sex scandals ultimately concludes able transform flaws powerful force ambition brought new emotional public life critical response famous man america received critics npr selected year best books stating book convinces readers truth title called beautifully written biography america best known preacher exceptionally thorough thoughtful account spectacular career helped shape reflect national civil war wrote assessment critical gives account review boston_globe called book fantastic story flair penetration changing motives actors reviewing washington_post called book thorough reviewing book new_york_times stated book occasionally loses force personal details concluded biography worthy subject writing usa today stated book excessive detail praised perspective wrote fact fast paced portrait america famous america famous 19th century families remarkably authentic mirror times criticizing minor flaw lack description praised book chicago_tribune calling rare books delivers great deal promises critical saw factual errors claims role creating mass media richardson concluded flaws story april book announced winner pulitzer prize biography autobiography said win half good luck come years ago don think climate ready religious right intersection politics important
The Most Famous Man in America