Mr. Lincoln's Chair: The Shakers and Their Quest for Peace

by Anita Sanchez

"The Civil War struck America's Shaker communities with all the violence of a hurricane. Through the dramatic story of two worlds in collision, author Anita Sanchez gives illuminating insights into the nature of each. As she unfolds the story of the Shakers' quest to spur President Abraham Lincoln to grant them conscientious objector status, the reader realizes how critically important to our nation is the legacy of a people who are too often dismissed as merely being the makers of nice chairs. Vivid and beautifully written, this book is a wonderful introduction to the history, faith, culture, and heritage of the Shakers, who have been interacting with and quietly influencing the mainstream culture of the United States for over 230 years while most Americans were unaware it was even happening." --Darryl Thompson, Shaker historian and historical interpreter

Terrific book. I am a huge fan of the Shakers and their community and lifestyle. This book had lots of new information for me, and was well written and involved the "outside world" as well as that of the early and civil-war time Shakers.