Winner of the Francis Parkman Prize of the Society of American Historians       For the quarter-century before 1860 Stephen A. Douglas was a dominant         figure on the American political scene, far outshadowing Abraham Lincoln.         This first paperback printing of Robert Johannsen's authoritative biography         features a new preface.       "At once a work of enormous scholarship and of deep insight. Here,         for the first time, is the full story of a great career, told with such         skill that we can now understand why Abraham Lincoln found the 'Little         Giant' the most formidable political rival he ever faced." -- David         H. Donald, author of Lincoln and two-time winner of the Pulitzer         Prize       "Well-organized and marvelously detailed. . . . The book demonstrates         the virtues of large-scale, straightforward narrative biography at its         best. Its completeness and objectivity will make it the standard authority         for many years to come." -- Richard N. Current, The New York Times         Book Review       "Superb. . . . Will doubtless stand as the definitive biography         of Stephen A. Douglas for this generation." -- Hans L. Trefousse,         The Journal of American History       "An impressive work--impressive in scope, in research, and in maturity         of understanding. . . . Johannsen has constructed a biography that is         rich in detail and full of conviction." -- James Z. Rabun, The         Journal of Southern History       "Should take its place in the tradition of magisterial biographies         . . . in which so much of the best writing on American history is to be         found." -- Harry V. Jaffa, National Review       "The research is amazingly exhaustive and the writing is unusually         readable. . . . Outstanding biography of a quality not often matched."         -- LeRoy H. Fischer, Manuscripta       Supported by the Dickerson Fund of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign