Abraham Lincoln rose from the depths of obscurity to guide the United States successfully through the turbulent and menacing years of the Civil War. Laborer, businessman, postmaster, politician, and lawyer were some of the vocations, not all successful, that Lincoln tried during the years leading to his ascent to the Presidency. This review of the literature gives a historical overview of the life of Lincoln as elucidated by the sources cited, an overview which may be useful to educators or others seeking a broad perspective on the life of this famous American. (Author)