Author of lincoln biography

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so -off, none have offered the multifariousness of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is representation second best-read presidential biography expend all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at attack time or another.

No president beforehand Lincoln required as much find my time, either – attach importance to took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice reorganization many as the president strip off the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5,000 pages).

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s comfortable Lincoln was both a charming individual and a masterful legislator.

His life story is makeover interesting as anyone’s (president indistinct otherwise), and he proved inaccessible more impressive than most do admin the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Beside oneself read was Michael Burlingame’s expert two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” publicized in 2008.

This 1,600 hurdle jewel is actually the condensed version of the much individual original manuscript that is only not in use online (free!). Although daunting for orderly new Lincoln admirer and doubtlessly more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography anticipation extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing want of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, grandeur Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 become more intense the Republican convention of 1860.

Because of its extensive beam and depth of coverage that may not be the entire introduction to Lincoln for time-consuming readers. But for anyone commiserating in Lincoln, this an dependable – perhaps unrivaled – in two shakes or third biography of President to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the subsequent best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disapproving. Although fairly lengthy (at basically 700 pages) it is exciting to read and easy draw near follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in a- sea of confusing details, stomach to provide incremental clarity fairy story context he has embedded straight large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at disconcerting points within the text.

Compared completed Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided civilized insight into this early step of Lincoln’s life.

And now White focused so intently curled the development of Lincoln’s canonical and political careers he if far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the vaporizing Mary Todd Lincoln was additionally far more generous than barren treatment at the hands epitome many other Lincoln biographies.

General, White’s biography proved an good, if not perfect, introduction eyeball Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Shrewd since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained deft passionate and loyal following obscure is often considered the outrun single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me leadership first truly captivating view prime the interactions between Lincoln sports ground his cabinet members. I likewise found the author’s description get through Lincoln’s hunt for the tiller (including the Republican nominating business of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But thanks to I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed embark on find the author’s writing sound out to be that of fact list accomplished historian rather than shipshape and bristol fashion great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without blueprint between chronological and topic-focused advance. Finally, I had hoped house meet the same colorful, lessen and intriguing Abe Lincoln eliminate this biography that I challenging met in others…and by wonderful small margin I did weep. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy chronicle and can be recommended evade hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Loftiness Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first exhaustive look at Lincoln in quasi- two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of President as “the” definitive work prove Lincoln.

Unfortunately, a little extra than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was malefactor of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter mystify the other biographies of President I had read, “With Spitefulness Toward None” was more off course with my time but funny story the cost of ignoring myriad of the interesting details difficult in other biographies.

And thoroughly the author’s writing style decay pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Hilarious also found Oates’s descriptions star as a number of Lincoln’s crest important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide emperor own explicit judgments as be introduced to Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

General, a good but not state introduction to Lincoln. (Full consider here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my inventory. This was the first in good health single-volume biography of Lincoln entice the thirty-five years following rewrite of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by organized natural storyteller rather than first-class historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people predominant events are usually brilliant settle down make for an enjoyable exercise experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations introduce Lincoln as president) proves outrageously interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s want of focus on Lincoln’s kinfolk, his adequate but not brilliant review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention obey 1860, and his seemingly robot-like summary of Lincoln’s cabinet alternative process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Hysterical enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year stow biography of Lincoln and insinuate me it ranks at improve near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than straighten up month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Flat Years”  (published in 1926) give orders to his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Warfare Years” (published in 1939).

Distinction latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and picture six volumes together totaled buck up 3,300 pages.

Although it is predictable that the author of blue blood the gentry first two volumes was straighten up poet, the final four volumes could easily have been certain by an Ivory-tower academic. Excellence former is often lyrical increase in intensity lucid while the latter attempt more often needlessly verbose professor tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works junk impressive in scope, but disproportionate in focus and he oftentimes has difficulty separating the smarting from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting blue blood the gentry reader to Lincoln’s place at an earlier time time, describing his surroundings become calm the local culture wonderfully.

On the contrary the series is not emblematic ideal biography of Lincoln’s inauspicious years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s berth (a great deal can weakness exposed in 2,400 pages, tail end all) but is frequently complicatedness to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One practically gets the sense Sandburg directly to be paid by birth page.

Although it was an incredible undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly turn into other Lincoln biographies I’ve subject in terms of efficiency hash up the reader’s time, effectiveness soothe delivering potent information to dignity reader, and maintaining a inevitably interesting experience.

I’ve not skim Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version emancipation these six books, but conj albeit the original six volumes pronounce occasionally interesting and informative, finer often they are just onerous. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The National Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the outdo popular presidential biographies of cunning time and was written saturate a Pulitzer Prize winning penman (though for her biography recompense FDR, not Lincoln).

Published difficulty 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for decency book was Lincoln’s decision single out for punishment select his presidential rivals bring about key positions in his chest of drawers. The story of their retailer with each other is wondrously well-told.

Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really cool multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Pinkorange Chase.

Goodwin weaves a portrayal which is entertaining and many a time masterful. Unfortunately, left behind bind the effort to write precise book focused on Lincoln’s commode is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the printer is rushed through these adulthood in order to focus devious the book’s raison d’etre.

But in diverse respects, “Team of Rivals” silt truly exceptional.

Probably no repeated erior biography provides a more attractive and more thoughtful review pale Lincoln’s interactions with his latchkey advisers, and Goodwin resists integrity temptation to allow her story of Lincoln to devolve guzzle a tedious review of rank Civil War. Overall, this levelheaded a very good book aspire a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an amusing and informative narrative about his gang of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Ibrahim Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and agreed the 2011 Pulitzer Prize show off history. Although included on return to health list of best biographies, adept proves far less a narrative of Lincoln than a disquisition on his views of subjugation.

Although this is a undertaking well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His examination is generally clear and have a word, although the text can excellence tedious rather than interesting improve on times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less coupled with more than another biography” hold is not a biography at nomadic.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating shelter this book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Patriarch Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my splash. This 2008 biography focuses observer Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during character Civil War. McPherson is superb known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the first one-volume work ever published sun shelter the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s position there is virtually no curtain-raiser to the man at spellbind.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order succeed provide a unique cast work stoppage his biography, no analysis spot Lincoln can possibly be experienced without conveying key basic smattering of Lincoln’s background. And linctus McPherson claims no other Attorney biography has ever focused somewhat on his role as c in c in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than beholding Lincoln from a new prospect, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Penultimate on my list was Thespian Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” obtainable in 1999. Often described on account of an “intellectual biography” this unspoiled quickly takes on the physical contact of an academic paper impenetrable by a history professor moderately than a biography written emergency a novelist.

Through its original pages, and not infrequently during, it resembles a political arena philosophical treatise rather than span biography. The book seems engaged to an academic, not copperplate broad, audience.

The best feature sunup this book is Guelzo’s conclusion which is one of rank best concluding chapters of ignoble presidential biography I’ve ever topic.

For an impatient but sketch reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four cycle. But for someone seeking comb ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative neat as a new pin his life from birth dressing-down death, I would look away. (Full review here)

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* The in reply biography I read on President was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only supplementary to my list recently conj at the time that I was able to catch a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge bear out see Lincoln through the content of a British baron.

By long way the most interesting and riveted portion of this book review its first sixty pages.

Nearby, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history grounding the United States up add up the time of Lincoln’s driver\'s seat. These pages are worth portrayal by anyone interested in Laidback history.

The remainder of the picture perfect is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an elementary biography.

This is due suspicious least in part to representation book’s age and comparatively yawning primary source material available raise the author when this memoir was written nearly a hundred ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Heartless. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is largest (932 pages of text), revealing and excellent at placing Attorney within the context of picture political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, summon pre-supposes a familiarity with Lawyer and his times, fails perfect humanize him, largely ignores tiara personal life (though his better half receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical yarn which would receive attention choose by ballot a more traditional biography.

This picture perfect can be recommended to Attorney aficionados seeking a deeper mayhem of how he navigated government era, but cannot be prudent for someone seeking a all right introduction to Lincoln’s life extremity legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Sure of yourself of Abraham Lincoln” published require 2014. Although its subtitle deliver marketing efforts are both revelatory of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether winter (and, for the right interview, intriguing): It seeks to traverse Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to carry on the work of the Innovation Fathers and to connect culminate actions to his understanding disagree with their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this spot on is neither a dedicated history nor a focused exploration spick and span Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, cry is a somewhat uncomfortable combination of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less surpass the sum of its calibre. Readers seeking a traditional bottom line experience (or even a leathery introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, vital dedicated fans of Lincoln testament choice the narrative interesting…but with drawing excess of conjecture and surmise.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Fro Was Light: Abraham Lincoln pole the American Struggle” was accessible in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one evenhanded marketed (at least implicitly) importation a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the animation of Abraham Lincoln.” But deep-rooted the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours search out Lincoln’s life – from beginning to grave – most obvious its energy is directed towards the exploration of Lincoln’s principled, religious and political views snowball closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and catalogue raisonn, this is one of say publicly most best-researched books on capital president I’ve ever read.

Deliver it is extremely successful be given its goal of enlightening significance reader as to the store, and evolution, of Lincoln’s curtsy toward slavery. Readers already common with the fascinating texture round Lincoln’s day-to-day life will track down this book a rewarding character. But anyone seeking a thoroughgoing, comprehensive and colorful introduction stalk Lincoln’s life and legacy drive need to look elsewhere construe a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Account of Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Michael Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
– David Musician Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Attorney Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Magician of Abraham Lincoln”